Indonesia pursues tri-service embarked helicopter capability ahead of carrier induction

An Indonesian Air Force Super Puma helicopter landing on the flight deck of KRI Makassar. (Indonesian Air Force)

Indonesia has begun a programme to establish a tri-service embarked aviation capability, Janes has learnt.

The programme aims to enable helicopter types operated by the Indonesian Army, Navy, and Air Force to conduct flight operations from naval vessels, including the country's future aircraft carrier, which will be commissioned as KRI Gajah Mada.

A service representative told Janes that the effort is being co-ordinated through a shipboard qualification programme managed by the Indonesian Navy's aviation arm in Surabaya.

The programme will establish operating envelopes and certification procedures for helicopter types that have not traditionally operated from naval flight decks, the representative said.

As part of the programme, Indonesian Army and Air Force helicopter crews have begun training on a shore-based flight deck simulator at Juanda Naval Air Station in Surabaya.

According to information provided to Janes, the qualification programme is being conducted in phases.

Aircrew first undergo classroom instruction and simulator training at Juanda before progressing to deck operations aboard designated Indonesian Navy vessels.

One of the first milestones was achieved in late August 2026, when an Indonesian Air Force NAS-332 Super Puma helicopter conducted shipboard qualification operations aboard the Makassar-class landing platform dock KRI Makassar.

This was the first landing by an Indonesian Air Force Super Puma on a Makassar-class vessel.

After qualifying on these vessels, the aircrew will progressively undertake qualification on the flight deck of Gajah Madah.

The training programme follows evidence identified by Janes in May 2026, when satellite imagery revealed a full-scale outline of the former Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi's flight deck painted on an apron at Juanda.