PASKHAS TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Force Special Forces)

The Indonesian Air Force (IAF)has its own elite unit, called Air Force Special Forces Corps (Paskhas). Just like any other elite unit in the Army and Navy, Paskhas is the ground combat unit that is capable to operate on land, sea, and air. The difference is that Paskhas is trained to conquer and defend air fields from enemy, and then prepare the air fields to be able to facilitate friendly airplanes to land. This capability is called Front Air Fields Establishment and Management Operation.

The history of Paskhas as the first airborne unit is almost as old as the Republic of Indonesia. Airborne infiltration operation by 14 paratroopers on October 17, 1947 in Kotawaringin, Kalimantan, is marked as the birth date of Paskhas. In the early years of Indonesian Air Force (established on April 9, 1946), these airborne unit is called Air Field Defense Unit (PPP). In April 1952, the Quick-Reaction Unit (PGT) was also established to strengthen the IAF.

As of 1952, the IAF ground units consisted of PPP, PGT, and PSU (Air Defense Unit). On October 15, 1962, PPP and PGT were organized into Air Fields Defense Command (Koppau). Later on May 17, 1966, Koppau was renamed to Quick-Reaction Troops Command (Kopasgat). There were three Kopasgat regiments, each located in Bandung, Jakarta and Surabaya. Kopasgat was transfromed into Special Forces Center in 1985 before became Paskhas on July 7, 1997 based on the official decision of Indonesian Armed Forces Commander.

Today Paskhas has a strength of 3,000 personnels.