Jakarta, Aug. 19 -- Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Indonesia plans to make its planned Asia-wide Hercules maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Kertajati Airport a main center for maintaining Air Force fighter jets.

Sjafrie made the remarks during a meeting with officials from PT Dirgantara Indonesia, PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia and Air Force Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono aboard a Hercules C-130 on Wednesday.

"Going forward, we want to be able to independently maintain these fighter aircraft," Sjafrie said after attending a ceremony marking the handover of a Hercules C-130H from GMF to the Defense Ministry.

Sjafrie said the plan to independently maintain fighter jets followed an order from Pre...