After much speculation over the last couple of years it has finally been confirmed that the Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU, Indonesian Air Force) has ordered the C-130J Super Hercules.

An image released by the TNI-AU on September 7 to coincide with a visit to the production line in Marietta, Georgia, by TNI-AU Chief of Staff Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo, showed him signing the cockpit section of the first TNI-AU aircraft, c/n 382-5951. The cockpit was only a basic frame at that time, indicating that the aircraft is still in the early stages of construction. Commenting on the acquisition, the TNI-AU chief said that the additional C-130Js will enhance Indonesia's airlift capabilities, with the type continuing to be the backbone of TNI-AU operations, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

The TNI-AU has selected the stretched C-130J-30 variant to meet its requirements and placed an order for five through a Direct Commercial Sale, which was signed in late 2019 but has never been made public. No delivery schedule for the aircraft has yet been announced.

The TNI-AU has been a long-standing customer for the Hercules, having first put the C-130B variant into service in January 1960. Three C-130Bs and one KC-130B tanker remain in TNI-AU service today, along with eleven C-130Hs, seven C-130H-30s and four commercial L-100-30 variants.

The fleet is split between Skadron Udara (SkU) 17 and SkU 31, both part of Komando Operasi Angkatan Udara I (KOOPSAU I – Air Force Operations Command I) at Lanud Halim Perdanakusuma/Jakarta, KOOPSAU II/SkU 32 at Lanud Abdul Rahman Saleh/Malang and KOOPSAU III/SkU 33 at Lanud Hasanuddin/Ujung Pandang.