Indonesian Air Force receives new KT-1B trainer

The Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU) received one new Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KT-1B Wong Bee basic trainer aircraft.

The aircraft, with registration number LL-0119, arrived at Adisutjipto Air Base on 8 December after completing assembly at PT Dirgantara Indonesia's (PTDI's) facility in Bandung, the service announced on the airfield's Instagram social media account.

The aircraft is part of an order for three KT-1Bs that was placed by TNI-AU in November 2018 for attrition replacement. The contract, worth KRW100 billion (USD89 million), also included the capability upgrade of the service's T-50i Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer aircraft.

The aircraft will be operated by the 102nd Training Squadron, along with the 13 KT-1s already in service with the Indonesian Air Force. It is unclear when the remaining two aircraft on order will be delivered.

According to Janes Market Forecast data, a total of 17 aircraft were procured over three batches for the TNI-AU. The first order for seven units was placed in 2001, with deliveries taking place between 2003 and 2005. A second batch of five KT-1B was delivered in 2007–08 and the last seven aircraft were ordered in 2008 and delivered between 2012 and 2014 and assembled in Indonesia. A total of four aircraft were lost over time: one in 2010, two in 2015, and one in 2020.