Indonesia is initiating an innovative plan to convert its extensive toll road network into emergency runways for military aircraft. This strategy aims to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indonesian Air Force, effectively creating multiple airfields across the nation’s vast archipelago. Air Force Chief of Staff Tonny Harjono announced that the goal is to ensure that each of the country’s 39 provinces will have at least one section of toll road available for military use, although a specific timeline for implementation has not been provided.
During a demonstration on November 1, 2023, an Indonesian Air Force F-16 fighter jet and a Super Tucano attack aircraft successfully took off and landed on a toll road in Lampung province, located on the southern tip of the island of Sumatra. Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto called the event a significant milestone, stating, “This success marks an important milestone in strengthening the universal defense system.”
The concept of utilizing highways as emergency military landing strips is not entirely new. Various militaries around the world, including those of the United States, Finland, and Sweden, have previously demonstrated this capability. This approach aligns with broader military strategies, such as the U.S. military’s efforts to disperse fighter jets across multiple islands in the Pacific to enhance their survivability amid potential conflicts.
While Indonesia has had maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea, officials emphasize that this plan is not aimed at any specific nation. An official statement from the Indonesian Air Force noted, “The use of toll roads as situational alternative runways is expected to strengthen the operational readiness of the Indonesian Air Force in facing various potential threats, without reducing the primary function of toll roads as public transportation infrastructure.”
Analysts suggest that this strategy is a cost-effective solution for Indonesia, which comprises over 6,000 inhabited islands stretching approximately 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) from east to west. The nation currently lacks aircraft carriers, which are costly to acquire and maintain, often exceeding billions of dollars. Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, explained, “Having countless toll roads and highways earmarked as emergency military runways across the entire archipelago makes more strategic and operational sense.”
The advantages of using roadways as military runways include a lower margin of risk. Koh pointed out that if an aircraft carrier were struck, it could be rendered ineffective, whereas multiple roadways provide redundancy. “If you strike the aircraft carrier once, it’s gone,” he noted. Additionally, roadways can accommodate a wider range of aircraft, including those that cannot operate from carriers, such as the F-16 and Super Tucano demonstrated recently.
Air Force Chief Harjono indicated that sections of toll roads will be designated with a length of 3,000 meters (almost two miles) to facilitate military aircraft operations. He praised the proficiency of Indonesian pilots, who have trained to execute landings on roadways that are only half as wide as traditional airport runways, which typically range from 45 to 60 meters in width. “Toll roads are only about 24 meters (79 feet) wide. It’s risky, but Air Force pilots are trained for these conditions,” he said, as reported by the government-run Antara news agency.
As Indonesia moves forward with this ambitious initiative, the integration of military capabilities with existing infrastructure reflects a strategic adaptation to the unique challenges posed by the nation’s geography.
