Over the past few years, the russian Aerospace Forces have submitted multiple requests to Indonesia to let their Il-76 and Tu-95 long-range aircraft land at the Manuhua Air Force Base in Biak Numfor, the Papua Province. Some of these requests were satisfied.
Now russia wants to go further and get its aircraft based full-time at the Manuhua airbase. The Indonesian authorities have already received an official request, sources in Jakarta told Janes.
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The proposal follows a February 2025 meeting between ex-defense minister and now the Secretary of the russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu with the Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Currently, this airbase is home to Aviation Squadron 27 of the Indonesian Air Force, which operates CN235 reconnaissance aircraft, and the newly established 9th Air Wing with no aircraft assigned yet. Notably, Manuhua has a runway shared with the nearby Frans Kaisiepo civil airport.
The details on russia's leasing request to Indonesia are unknown for now, the Janes journalists emphasize. However, based on the fact that russians have previously requested to land their Il-76 and Tu-95 there, Defense Express assumes that it's precisely the military strategic aviation that the Kremlin needs the Indonesian airbase for.
Importantly, russia seeking to base its long-range aviation in Indonesia could indicate Moscow's preparation for participation in a big war in the Indo-Pacific, most likely on the side of China, considering that Manuhua is only about 1,200 km north of the Australian continent shores.
Despite the seemingly long-standing relations between Moscow and Jakarta, there is not much else to seek from such a partnership besides war preparations. In fact, the USSR had lost all of its influence in this remote country back in 1965 during the attempted communist coup in Indonesia.
In February 2022, following the russian federation's invasion of Ukraine, Indonesia refused to proceed with the purchase of russian Su-35S fighter aircraft and instead chose the French Rafale. However, Indonesia then suddenly joined the BRICS bloc in January 2025. Other than that, the country has been one of the traditional buyers of russian aircraft in Asia.
As of 2024, Indonesian National Armed Forces had two Su-27SK and three Su-27SKM fighters among their aviation fleet, as well as two Su-30MKs and nine Su-30MK2s, according to The Military Balance study by IISS.
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