Hercules Parts - Strengthening Australia-Indonesia Air Force Relationship

Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer, welcomed the provision of Royal Australian Air Force parts for the Indonesian Air Force’s C-130E Hercules fleet.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s Air Commander, Air Vice Marshal John Quaife, and Indonesian Department of Defence representative, Air Vice Marshal Slamet Prihatino, participated in a handover ceremony at Halim Air Base this morning in Jakarta.

“Having retired our C-130E aircraft, it makes sense for Australia to transfer the surplus spare parts to Indonesia to enhance regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations”, Mr Farmer said. “We have a mutual interest in regional humanitarian and disaster relief.”

The spare parts, valued at 2.8 billion Rupiah, will improve the Indonesian Air Force’s ability to maintain its C-130 fleet and thereby better respond to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief tasks. In December 2006 the Royal Australian Air Force and Indonesian Air Force conducted a C-130 interoperability activity, Exercise RAJAWALI AUSINDO at RAAF Base Richmond demonstrating the ongoing cooperation between the two air forces.

“The transfer of spare parts demonstrates the strengthening Defence relationship between Australia and Indonesia,” said Mr Farmer. C-130s from both countries played a significant role in recovery operations following the Asian tsunami in December 2004 while Indonesian Air Force C130s featured in relief operations for the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006.

Further information:
Steven Barraclough (Australian Embassy) mob.0811 993328