Indonesia Plans To Turn Its Freeways Into Cheaper ‘Aircraft Carriers’

Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 16:22 IST

The use of freeways for military landing strips has previously been demonstrated by the US, Finland and Sweden.

Indonesia is planning to make its freeways into emergency runways for its fighter jets, the air force said in a statement.

CNN quoted chief of staff of the Indonesian air forces, Marshal Tonny Harjono saying that he hopes that eventually each of the country’s 38 provinces will have at least one toll road section usable as an emergency runway, though no timeline was given.

During a demonstration on Wednesday, an Indonesian Air Force F-16 fighter and a Super Tucano attack plane performed successful landings and takeoffs from a toll road in Lampung province on the southern tip of the island of Sumatra.

“This success marks an important milestone in strengthening the universal defense system," Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto said.

“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," an Indonesian Air Force statement said.

The air force chief of staff said for the plan to succeed the roadways will need to have 3,000-meter-long (almost two miles) sections where the military aircraft could land and take off.

Deputy Defence Minister said: “Toll roads are only about 24 metres (79 feet) wide, narrower than airport runways at 45 to 60 meters. It’s risky, but Air Force pilots are trained for these conditions."

The use of freeways for military landing strips has previously been demonstrated by the US, Finland and Sweden.

CNN quoted analysts saying that this will prove to be a cost-effective approach as usually aircraft carriers can cost billions of dollars.

“An aircraft carrier doesn’t seem that attractive as a cost-effective platform," said Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“Having countless toll roads and highways earmarked as emergency military runways across the entire archipelago makes more strategic and operational sense," he said.

“The margin of risk is lower than an aircraft carrier," Koh told CNN. “If you strike the aircraft carrier once, it’s gone."

News world Indonesia Plans To Turn Its Freeways Into Cheaper ‘Aircraft Carriers’

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