Paskhas

First Airborne Operations

The then republican Governor of Kalimantan Ir. Prince Muhammad Noor made a request to the Indonesian Air Force to send paratroopers to Kalimantan for the task of forming and organizing pro-Republic guerrilla organizations to assist in the revolution in Borneo, opening a parent radio station to allow connections between Yogyakarta and Borneo rebels and selecting more dropping zones for future operations. At the initiative of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, 12 indigenous sons of Kalimantan and 2 regular Air Force personnel were chosen.^[1]

On 17 October 1947, thirteen airmen were successfully deployed in Sambi, West Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan. They were Hari Hadi Sumantri (Semarang Radio Air Force mechanic), FM Soejoto (An Air Force Radio interpreter from Ponorogo), Iskandar (troop leader), Ahmad Kosasih, Bachri, J. Bitak, C. Williem, Imanuel, Amirudin, Ali Akbar, M Dahlan, JH. Darius, and Marawi. All of these brave men (save for one airman named Jamhani who did not jump because he was scared) were never taught and trained formal airborne exercises except of theoretical and simple ground training.

They were deployed from the C-47 Dakota RI-002 aircraft flown by an American named Bob Freeberg as well as the owner of the aircraft, co-pilot Warrant Officer Suhodo, and the Jumpmaster, Pilot Officer Amir Hamzah. Acting as the pointer to the parapet was Major Tjilik Riwut who was a native son of Borneo. This was the first airborne operation in Indonesian history.

The troops would initially be deployed in Sepanbiha, South Kalimantan, but due to bad weather and the contours of the heavily forested areas of Borneo, Major Riwut was confused when predicting the jumping ground. After doing guerrilla operations in the forest on 23 November 1947, the platoon was ambushed by the Dutch army due to the betrayal of a local village chief, resulting in the death of Hari Hadi Sumantri, Iskandar and Ahmad Kosasih. While the others managed to escape, but eventually after a few months they were unfortunately captured by the Dutch, and were later tried and imprisoned. They were released after serving a 1-year sentence and upon their return to Yogyakarta, the remaining airmen immediately enlisted into the Air Force by order of Air Commodore Suryadarma, assisted by their commander. (Partly due to this operation, Major Riuwt would later be awarded with the title of National Hero of Indonesia.)

The pioneer airborne operation carried out by the thirteen Indonesian Air Force personnel on 17 October 1947 was later designated as the anniversary of the Komando Pasukan Gerak Cepat (Rapid Response Troop Commandos), later known as "Kopasgat", and today known as the Paskhas.^[2] This makes this organization the oldest active special forces unit in Indonesia and within all of Southeast Asia, and the first airborne and air force infantry unit to be founded in the region. (The Philippine 1st Scout Ranger Regiment, the 2nd oldest, was established 2 years later in 1949.)

In each of the Dutch-led Politionele acties (police actions) in 1947 and 1948–49, PPP airmen bore the brunt of Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and Royal Netherlands Army attacks on the Republican air bases. In what is now the Adisutjipto Air Force Base in Yogyakarta alone, 96 airmen perished in a memorable Dutch airborne attack there on 19 December 1948.

Air Base Defense Troops (ABDT)

By 1950 the Jakarta-based PPP was still known as the title of "Air Base Defense Troops (ABDT)", but now had paratrooper squadrons within its ranks. Troops were divided into 8 companies/squadrons and led by Captain (later Major) RHA Wiriadinata with his deputy 1st Lieutenant R Soeprantijo. Then in the mid-1950s, the Inspectorate of Air Base Defense Forces (IPP) was based in Sabang, Jakarta, which in April 1952 was transferred to Cililitan Air Base, East Jakarta. An additional service, the PSU ('Penangkis Serangan Udara, Air Defense Component) was later added to provide an air defense capability.

In 1950, the Parachute School was also opened to train future Air Force paratroppers at the Andir Air Force Base in Bandung, West Java, as a continuation of the Para School embryo in Maguwo. Its alumni, both officers and airmen, later formed the basis for the Kompi-kompi Pasukan Gerak Tjepat-PGT (Quick Reaction Troop Companies) which were formed in February 1952, with Captain Wiriadinata as the commanding officer and concurrently as Commander of Andir Air Force Base in Bandung. By 1958 these consisted of 11 Independent Airborne Companies, 8 Air Base Defense companies and 1 Air Defense Artillery Battery.

PGT Combat Team Regiment (RTP-PGT)

Subsequently, in the 1960s, PGT (Pasukan Gerak Tjepat (old spelling, Pasukan Gerak Cepat in the Perfected Spelling System): Quick Reaction Troops) was also assigned to the operation of West Irian (Papua) liberation under the command of the Air Force commander, which at that time the PGT Battle Team Regiment (RTP PGT) was based in Bandung with Captain (U) Sugiri Sukani as commander. The RTP PGT was organized into the following:

• Regimental HQ and HQ Company
• 1st Battalion PGT led by Captain Z. Rachiman
• 2nd Battalion PGT led by Captain JO. Palendeng

Air Commodore RHA Wiriadinata was the first PGT commander (1952) which brought much progress to paratroopers in Indonesia, especially in the Air Force. The concept of PGT since its inception was focused on the ability of Commando and Para combined. He has also been the Commander of the Paratrooper Education Command ("KOGABDIK PARA"). Alongside the Indonesian Marine Corps (then the KKO – Naval Commando Operations Corps Command), the PGT and the Air Force base defense formations were just two of the few Armed Forces formations most loyal to President Sukarno, then the founding commander in chief of the National Armed Forces, until he was ousted in 1967 by the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly.^[3]

Air Force Bases Defense Command (KOPPAU)

On 15 October 1962, based on the a decree of the CSAF, the Air Force Bases Defense Command (KOPPAU, Komando Pertahanan Pangkalan Angkatan Udara) was established. KOPPAU consised of theComamnd HQ in Bandung, PPP (Air Base Defence Forces) Regiment in Jakarta and PGT Regiment in Bandung. The PPP Regiment was composed of the regimental headquarters and 5 Base Defense Battalions based in Jakarta, Banjarmasin, Makassar, Biak and Palembang (then moved to Medan). The PGT regiment consisted of 3 Battalions,: the 1st Battalion PGT (3rd Honor Guard (Air Force) Battalion, Cakrabhirawa Regiment) based in Bogor, 2nd Battalion PGT in Jakarta and 3rd Battalion PGT in Bandung, together with the regimental headquarters. The battalions were subdivided into the battalion HQ company and 3–5 parachute infantry companies, base defense companies or air defense artillery batteries, depending on specialty, the 1st battalion, which was assigned as public duties battalion, was assigned 6 guard of honour companies and the battalion HQ company.

Based on the Decree of the Air force commander Number III / PERS / MKS / 1963 dated 22 May 1963, on 9 April 1963 Air Commodore RHA Wiriadinata was confirmed as the first Commanding General of KOPPAU and served for a year, replacing acting commander ACM Suryadi Suryadarma, who served concurrently as Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Then in 1964, he was replaced by Air Commodore Ramli Sumardi who served until 1966.^[4] It was under this configuration that the KOPPAU'S 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the PGT Regiment fought during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. Most of the PPP Regiment, however, did not take part in the events of the 30 September Movement of 1965, which set off a series of events leading to the ouster of Sukarno in 1967, and remained on duty while the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Marshal Omar Dani, who had operational control over the command, later resigned from his office (the 1st Battalion PGT Regiment was stripped of Presidential Guard status following the disbandment of the regiment and was later returned to Air Force command and the Halim Perdanakusuma AFB unit of the regiment, whose commander, Major Sujono, was one of the coup leaders and had just months earlier in the Lubang Buaya area near the base began to train many Jakarta based workers to serve as part of a future national militia to be activated in keeping with wishes of President Sukarno himself, was partly the target of criticism).

It was during that period that the Air Force, through the KOPPAU and the Indonesian National Air Defense Forces Command, acquired a surface to air missile defense capability, a first in Southeast Asia, via the S-75 Dvina SAM system, leading to the formation of the 100th Medium/Long Distance Missile Regiment/Wing.

KOPASGAT

KOPPAU was, as a result of recommendations given during a Ministry of Defense conference in Bandung dated 11–16 April 1966, then transformed to KOPASGAT (Komando Pasukan Gerak Cepat) with the strength of 3 Regiments each based in Bandung, Jakarta, and Surabaya, under its new commander Air Commodore Saleh Basarah. Each of the regiments were organized into a HQ unit and 3–5 groups/battalions, each divided into 3–6 companies/squadrons/batteries (the Bandung wing had 2 battalions). Furthermore, based on the Air Force chief of Staff Decision No. 57 on 1 July 1970, the term "Regiment" was changed into "Wing" for distinguishing their unit names from the Indonesian Army (as part of a general reorganization of the armed forces under the Suharto administration). Kopasgat was then famous for its Leopard camouflage pattern uniform which was worn during Operation Seroja, led by then commander Air Commodore R. Suprantijo, and its orange berets, a singularity within the National Armed Forces.

When the operation of the release of hostage of Garuda Indonesia's WTOla DC-9 plane at Thailand's Don Muang Airport at Bangkok came in 1981 it was actually Kopasgat, under its commander Air Commodore Sugiantoro, who was prepared to act but due to the political pressure of the New Order at that time, it was the Kopassus that were deployed there instead.

PUSPASKHASAU

Puspaskhasau (Pusat Pasukan Khas Angkatan Udara meaning "Air Force Special Forces Command") later replaced the name Kopasgat. It was based on the dynamics of organizational improvement and consolidation of TNI units, then based on Air Force Chief of staff Decision No. Kep / 22 / III / 1985 dated 11 March 1985. Air Commodore LE Siagian was the first commander of the rebagded unit.

KORPASKHASAU

Along with the improvements of the TNI and Air Force organization, on 17 July 1997 according to the Decree no. SKEP / 09 / VII / 1997 of the Commander of the National Armed Forces the status of Paskhas was elevated from Central Executive Agency status to that of a Principal Combatant Command (Kotamabin) and was therefore renamed as the Korps Pasukah Khas Angkatan Udara/ KORPASKHASAU" which is simply called as Korps Paskhas or just PASKHAS. It was in time for the 50th anniversary of the first airborne jumps in Kalimantan. Air Commodore Budhy Santoso was commandant when the changes were made.

In 2011, to reflect the importance of the Paskas to the Air Force, the rank of the commanding general was changed into that of an Air Vice Marshal, the commanding general then being AVM Amarullah who was appointed that year replacing Air Commodore Harry Budiono.

Commando Battalions

Paskhas commandos from the 469th Commando Battalion during hostage rescue operation in anti-terror gear

1. Special/Elite Troops, which are :
   1. Bravo Detachment 90
   2. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Paskhas Matra Detachments
2. Air Parachute Commando Division consists of 9 Paskhas Commando Battalions which are under the structure of 3 Brigades. Which are:
   1. 1st Paskhas Para-Commando Wing Central :
      1. 461st Paskhas Commando Battalion
      2. 462nd Paskhas Commando Battalion
      3. 463rd Paskhas Commando Battalion
   2. 2nd Paskhas Para-Commando Wing East :
      1. 464th Paskhas Commando Battalion
      2. 465th Paskhas Commando Battalion
      3. 466th Paskhas Commando Battalion
   3. 3rd Paskhas Para-Commando Wing West :
      1. 467 Paskhas Commando Battalion
      2. 468 Paskhas Commando Battalion
      3. 469 Paskhas Commando Battalion

Air Defense Artillery Division

1. 100th Paskhas Medium/Long Distance Missile Regiment/Wing :
   1. Regiment/Wing HQ
   2. 101 Missile Launcher Battalion
   3. 102 Missile Launcher Battalion
   4. 103 Missile Launcher Battalion
   5. 104 Missile Launcher Battalion
2. 400th Paskhas Short Distance Missile Regiment/Wing :
   1. Regiment/Wing HQ
   2. 1st Mobile Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 1st Division Central Paskhas, Jakarta
   3. 2nd Mobile Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 2nd Division Paskhas, Makassar
   4. 3rd Mobile Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 3rd Division Paskhas, Medan
   5. 471 Air Defense Detachment, Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta
   6. 472 Air Defense Detachment, Hasanudin AFB, Makassar
   7. 473 Air Defense Detachment, Supadio AFB, Pontianak
   8. 474 Air Defense Detachment, Adisucipto AFB, Yogyakarta
   9. 475 Air Defense Detachment, Rusminnuryadin AFB, Pekanbaru
   10. 476 Air Defense Detachment, Suwondo AFB, Medan
   11. 477 Air Defense Detachment, Iswahyudi AFB, Madiun
   12. 478 Air Defense Detachment, Manuhua Husein Sastranegara AFB, Bandung
   13. 479 Air Defense Detachment, Manuhua AFB, Biak

Air Force Base Defense Regiment

Paskhas Commandos during security operations for the President of Indonesia visit to Papua in Biak air base

1. Paskhas A.F.B.D Regt. HQ in Bandung;
   1. 1st Battalion 1st Paskhas Division
   2. 2nd Battalion 2nd Paskhas Division
   3. 3rd Battalion 3rd Paskhas Division

Combat Support Regiment

1. Paskhas C.S.R Headquarters in Bandung;
   1. Regiment HQ
   2. Cavalry Armored Personnel Carrier Battalion
   3. Field Artillery Batt. (Light)
   4. Engineers Batt.

Admimistration Support Regiment

1. Paskhas A.S.R Headquarters in Bandung
   1. Regiment HQ
   2. Electronics and Communication Batt.
   3. Medical Batt.
   4. Transportation and Ordnance Batt.

Paskhas Divisions

• 1st Paskhas Division Central (composite) – Jakarta

Consists of: 1st Matra (branch) Detachment, 1st Combat battalion with 6 companies, 1st base defence battalion with 7 companies (some still under formation), 1st Brigade/Wing with 3 battalions of commandos, and 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment with 1 battalion and 3 detachments (some still under formation).

• 2nd Paskhas Division East (composite) – Makassar

Consists of: 2nd Matra (branch) Detachment, 2nd Combat battalion with 6 companies, 2nd base defense battalion with 7 companies (some still under formation), 2nd Brigade/Wing with 3 battalions of commandos, and 2nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment with 1 battalion and 3 detachments (some still under formation).

• 3rd Paskhas Division West (composite) – Medan

Consists of: 3rd Matra (branch) Detachment, 3rd Combat battalion with 6 companies, 3rd base defense battalion with 7 companies (some still under formation), 3rd Brigade/Wing with 3 battalions of commandos, and 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment with 3 detachments (some still under formation).

Hierarchy

Paskhas soldier during MFF (Military Free Fall)

The Paskhas corps is the only corps-shaped organization for special qualified troops within the Indonesian Air Force even within the TNI. The status of the Paskhas corps is side by side with Kopassus, which are one of the main Special Forces officially recognized by the TNI and are directly responsible for operational purposes to the Commander of the National Armed Forces. This is because these two special forces organizations are Principal Commands ("KOTAMA") which are "Standing Own" status with lethal attack ability. Paskhas was born as a commando force from the time of its birth, they are deployed with a small unit to apprehend behind the opponent's defensive line and instantly pierce the enemy's core defenses. That is the main cause that this corps is trained in the method adopted from British SAS (through education in RPKAD educational center). The method of command education in the Kopassus tradition began in the 1950s within the Education and Training Center. Paskhas personnel are also allowed to continue wearing the prestigious orange beret in ceremonial or service uniforms during any official ceremonies.

The devotion of Paskhas continues with the demanding tasks imposed on the Air Force in general and Paskhas in particular. The devotion of the Paskhas can be seen from the presence of Paskhas who has never been absent in various forms of operations, both military war operations (OMP) and non-war military operations (OMSP) of Indonesia. Today, Paskhas has grown and developed into one of the mainstays and pride, which is believed to be the strength of the land forces of the Air Force. The organization of Paskhas is organized into two levels, namely the Operations Force Command of the Paskhas Corps of the Air Force abbreviated "Mako Korpaskhas" and the Executive Level. At the Mako Korpaskhas level consists of the leader echelon, the assistant echelon of staff, the service echelon, and the central executive echelon, underlying the other units below. While at the Executive Level oversees Wing I, Paskhas Wing II and Paskhas Wing III, Bravo Detachment 90, Branch (Matra) Detachment, Air defense detachment and the Paskhas training and education center.

Paskhas also intends to bring in another tactical vehicle like the domestically produced "Dirgantara Military Vehicle" (DMV) made by PT DI which proved reliable and has been used by the elite Paskhas Bravo Detachment 90 unit.

Operation Trikora

During Operation Trikora, the Paskhas corps then "PGT AURI" in the Trikora operations deployed a total of 532 paratroopers – the largest number of military personnel operationally deployed to West Papua. The number of personnel from TNI, National Police (Mobile Brigade) and volunteers taking part amounted to 1,154 personnel with 216 deaths / lost and 296 captured. On 25 April 1962, during the operation of Banteng Ketaton as many as 40 PGT troops under the leadership of Sgt. Maj. J. Picaulima was deployed for the first time in West Irian in Fak-Fak area as well as the 39 PGT troops in Kaimana on 26 April 1962 did well. On 11 May 1962, PGT troops under the leadership of 1st Lieutenant Manuhua conducted a jump in Sorong during Operation Serigala.

One of the heroic and historic stories is the event of the National flag hoisting for the first time on a hill named Cendrawasih, in West Papua, conducted by Paskhas members at the initiative of Sergeant M.F. Mengko. On 19 May 1962, a total of 81 Paskhas paratroopers departed from Pattimura Air Base, Ambon, on board a C-130 Hercules transport plane piloted by Major (U) T.Z Abidin towards the target of a parachuting area around Wersar Village, Teminabuan District. In the early morning they were deployed just above the headquarters of the Dutch army. Suddenly close combat was unavoidable. Dutch troops which were sleeping was in shock because there are troops of Paskhas deployed right in their bases, while Paskhas soldiers also did not expect to be deployed in the Dutch base, rather being deployed in tea plantations. This heroic action resulted in the death of 53 Paskhas parachute commandos including the platoon commander 2nd Lieutenant Suhadi. To commemorate the historic event in the area around Teminabuan in Sorong, West Papua, a monument that is named Tugu Merah Putih (Red and White monument) was later built on the site of the battle.^[7]

Other operations

• Operation Dwikora
  • Landing at Pontian
• Operation Seroja
• Operation Trisula
• Rebel assault operations

Peacekeeping Missions

• Garuda Contingent in Vietnam
• XIV Garuda Contingent under UNPROFOR in Yugoslavia
• XIV A-B Garuda Contingent in Bosnia
• XVII Garuda Contingent under OKI in the Philippines
• XXIII Garuda Contingent in Lebanon