Indonesia Transforms Toll Roads into Emergency Runways for Jets

Indonesia is initiating a significant military strategy by converting its extensive toll roads into emergency runways for fighter jets. This innovative approach aims to transform the nation’s infrastructure into effective military assets, providing the equivalent of multiple aircraft carriers across its vast archipelago.

Marshal Tonny Harjono, the chief of staff of the Indonesian Air Force, announced on October 25, 2023, the hope that eventually each of the country’s 39 provinces will have at least one section of toll road designated as an emergency runway. Although a specific timeline has not been provided, the initiative reflects Indonesia’s commitment to enhancing its military capabilities.

In a recent demonstration in Lampung province, an Indonesian Air Force F-16 fighter jet and a Super Tucano attack plane successfully landed and took off from a toll road. This event marked a milestone in strengthening Indonesia’s defense capabilities, according to Donny Ermawan Taufanto, the Deputy Defense Minister.

The concept of utilizing highways as military landing strips is not new. Various countries, including the United States, Finland, and Sweden, have effectively implemented similar strategies. The United States military, for example, is exploring the dispersal of fighter jets across numerous islands in the Pacific to complicate targeting during potential conflicts, particularly concerning its relations with China. While Indonesia has had disputes with China in the South China Sea, officials emphasize that the new runway strategy is not aimed at any specific nation.

According to a statement from the Indonesian Air Force, “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 note that this approach is particularly cost-effective for a country that spans over 6,000 inhabited islands, stretching across an east-west distance of approximately 3,100 miles (or 5,000 kilometers).

Building an aircraft carrier capable of covering such extensive territory would be prohibitively expensive for Indonesia, with costs reaching billions of dollars. Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, pointed out that the extensive network of toll roads is a more strategic option. He stated, “Having countless toll roads and highways earmarked as emergency military runways across the entire archipelago makes more strategic and operational sense.”

The inherent risk associated with traditional aircraft carriers is notable. Koh explained, “If you strike the aircraft carrier once, it’s gone.” In contrast, utilizing multiple roadways means that the loss of one would not severely impact overall military operations. Furthermore, the toll roads can accommodate more diverse and less expensive aircraft, which are not limited to those required for carrier operations.

During the demonstration, the F-16 and the Super Tucano performed landings on toll roads that are only half the width of standard airport runways, which typically range from 45 to 60 meters. Harjono commended the expertise of Indonesian pilots, who are specifically trained to handle such challenging conditions. “Toll roads are only about 24 meters (or 79 feet) wide,” he noted, acknowledging the risks involved in this innovative military strategy.

As Indonesia continues to enhance its military capabilities, the plan to utilize toll roads as emergency runways represents not only a practical solution but also a significant step toward greater operational readiness in a region marked by strategic complexities.