President Obama and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced the planned transfer of 24 surplus USAF F-16s to the Indonesia air force during the Pacific leaders’ summit in Bali, Indonesia. This acquisition “provides Indonesia with a much-needed capability to protect its sovereign airspace and represents the largest transfer of defense articles in the history of the US-Indonesia bilateral relationship,” stated the White House in a release on Nov. 18 during Obama’s visit. The Pentagon informed Congress of the proposed deal on the previous day. Upgraded with modernized radar and avionics, the regenerated F-16C/Ds would be equipped to carry advanced targeting pods and weaponry. Indonesia also requested 28 refurbished engines and a stock of six airframes for use as spares. The United States will train at least 30 pilots stateside and send teams to train Indonesian maintainers. Aircraft deliveries are set to begin in July 2014. Indonesia currently operates a fleet of 10 F-16A/Bs. (AFPS report by Karen Parrish)
NASA Boss: Race to Moon Has National Security Stakes
Sept. 15, 2026
NASA is pushing hard to get astronauts back to the moon by 2028—and the urgency is driven in no small part by the national security implications of doing so before China does, Administrator Jared Isaacman said Sept. 15.
