Indonesia marked a milestone in military aviation on February 11, 2026, when the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) successfully landed and took off an F-16 Fighting Falcon and an EMB-314 Super Tucano on the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road in Lampung. The trial took place on the Terbanggi Besar–Pematang Panggang–Kayu Agung section, between KM 202+036 and KM 239+907, becoming the first time fighter jets have ever operated from a toll road in Indonesia.
Following the trial, Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo announced on March 8, 2026, that each province in Indonesia will eventually have at least one toll road segment capable of functioning as a fighter jet runway. BPJT Head Willan Oktavian explained that the specific segments will be selected based on recommendations from the Ministry of Defense, with some existing toll roads upgraded while future projects may be built with runway specifications from the start.
Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan said the concept is part of Indonesia’s adaptive “total defense” strategy, which aims to ensure military aircraft can continue operating even if main air bases become compromised. The Lampung test, he noted, demonstrated how national infrastructure can support defense readiness, with operational support from state-owned toll operator Hutama Karya.
The operation also showed the technical difficulty of such landings. Pilots had to land on a toll road only 24 meters wide, about half the width of a typical airport runway that usually measures 45 to 60 meters. Despite the challenge, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Tonny Harjono said the long-term goal is for all 38 provinces to have at least one emergency runway segment.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) stressed that Indonesia’s infrastructure should serve multiple purposes. Beyond supporting transportation and economic growth, he said infrastructure must also contribute to national defense and disaster response, making the toll-road runway concept a strategic solution for the world’s largest archipelagic nation.
