Indonesian Air Force
| TNI-AU Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara (Indonesian Air Force) |
|
|---|---|
TNI-AU insignia
|
|
| Founded | 9th of April in 1946 |
| Country |
 Indonesia
|
| Allegiance |
 President of Indonesia
|
| Type | Air Force |
| Role | Defence and dominance of Indonesia's airspace and its territory |
| Size | 37,850 personnel 224 aircraft |
| Motto(s) |
Swa Bhuwana Paksa (Sanskrit, "Wings of the Motherland") |
| Anniversaries | 9 April 1946 (founded) |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | President Joko Widodo |
| Air Chief Marshal | |
| Air Marshal | |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel & Fin Flash |
 
|
| Roundel 1946-1949 |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-30MKK, Hawk Mk. 209, EMB 314 Super Tucano |
| Fighter | F-16 Block 32+, Su-30MKK, Su-27 |
| Helicopter | AS332, SA330, MBB Bo 105 |
| Interceptor | Su-27, F-16 Block 32+, F-5 |
| Patrol | 737-2X9 Surveiller, CN235-220MPA |
| Trainer | KT-1, Hawk Mk.53/Mk.109, T-34, TA-4H/J, AS/SA-202, SF.260 |
| Transport | C-130, CN-235, F-28, NC-295, NC-212, 737-2Q8,A400M |
The Indonesian Air Force (Indonesian: Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara, TNI–AU) is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
The Indonesian Air Force has 37,850 personnel and equipped with 110 combat aircraft. The inventory includes SU-27 and SU-30 as the main fighters (from Russia) supplemented by F-16 Fighting Falcons (from the USA). The Indonesian Air Force is also currently engaging in talks with Russia to purchase about 9 or 10 Sukhoi SU-35 as a replacement for the already-aging US Northrop F-5 Tiger light fighters in its inventory.
After World War II ended, Indonesia became the second country (after Thailand) in Southeast Asia to acquire an air force. Indonesian pilots fought against the colonial forces of the Netherlands during 1945–1949 with former Japanese aircraft abandoned at the end of World War II, as well as aircraft of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (including Curtiss P-36 Hawk (P-36 Mohawk), Brewster F2A Buffalo and Fokker D.XXI fighters; Martin B-10 bombers; Fokker C.X reconnaissance floatplanes) left before the Japanese occupation in 1941.
After the Japanese announced their surrender at the end of WWII, Indonesian nationalist leader Sukarno declared Indonesian Independence on 17 August 1945. Several days later, Indonesian People's Security Force (Badan Keamanan Rakyat) was formed to undertake security duties. The Air Division of this force was also formed, using ex-Japanese planes scattered everywhere, especially in the island of Java, including Bugis Air Base in Malang (Established on 18 September 1945). The most numerous of these aeroplanes were the Yokosuka K5Y1 Willow (Cureng) trainers, which were hastily used to train newly recruited cadets. At the time of the founding, there was only one Indonesian holding a multi-engine pilot license from the pre-war Dutch Flying School, Agustinus Adisucipto (but did not have an opportunity to fly during the 3.5-year Japanese occupation). He was assisted by a few Japanese pilots who decided to stay in the newly born country. The new roundel was created simply by painting white on the lower part of the Japanese Hinomaru, reflecting the red and white of the Indonesian flag. The People's Security Force was then re-organized to form a formal armed force. This marked the birth of the Indonesian Air Force on 9 April 1946. However, tensions rose as the Dutch tried to re-claim their former colony and launched an assault on 21 July 1947, destroying most of the planes on the ground. Some planes survived though and were hidden in remote bases.
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