Linud Kostrad

Brigade Infanteri Lintas Udara TNI-AD
Army Airborne Infantry Brigade

Indonesian army today has three airborne infantry brigade (Brigif Linud). This three brigade was divided into two Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) division. The 3rd/Tri Budi Mahasakti and 17th/Kujang-1 were under Kostrad 1st Division Command. 17th Airborne Brigade having three battalion which is 305/Tengkorak in Karawang, 328/Dirgahayu in Cilodong and 330/Tri Dharma in Cicalengka. Kostrad 2nd Division was command 18th Airborne Brigade that consists of 501/Bajra Yudha in Madiun, 502/Ujwala Yudha in Malang and 503/Mayangkara in Mojokerto. This 17th and 18th airborne brigade was famous and becoming military legend in Indonesia with their many combat experiences.

The basic ideas for establish of the army airborne battalion began in early 1960’s when Indonesian armed forces were prepared for the Trikora operation in West Papua. The supreme commander of Trikora mission decided to infiltrate troops into Papua from sea and airborne landing. Then army trains this first three battalion to have airborne qualification in armed forces airborne training center in Margahayu Air Force Base in Bandung. This three battalion was Yon-328 from Siliwangi division, Yon-454 from Diponegoro battalion and Yon-530 from Brawijaya division. Each of this battalion making one airborne operation in Papua together with the para-commando forces from the army (RPKAD) and air force (PGT). They were dropped by parachute in the middle of the night in the jungle near small city in Papua.

After Trikora campaign, all three battalion also involve in Dwikora confrontation against the allied forces in North Kalimantan. They make some battle contact with joint forces from British, Australia, New Zealand, Gurkha and Malaysia along North Kalimantan border. In the 70’s this three airborne battalion also get Raider qualification with combat training that held in Battle Training Center (BTC) in Purworejo. This qualification making new combat skills calls Airborne-Raider (Raider Para). Unlike other regular infantry battalion this three battalion also having anti-guerilla specification which they learn from their combat experience against Indonesia separatism rebels. In 1975, this three airborne battalion becoming striking forces and also the first Indonesian troops that landed in Dili and Baucau, East Timor during Seroja operation. Just like Trikora operation, this three battalion together with Kopasandha and Kopasgat was landed by the parachute from the plane while the Marine troops was landed in Dili coast.

In the next army reorganize, Yon-328/Para and Yon-530/Para (now becomes Yonif-502) was no longer have Raider qualification. This two battalion also removing from the Military Area Command (Kodam) to the Kostrad 1st and 2nd Division controls. Yonif-454 was still under Diponegoro command with new name Yonif-401/Banteng Raider and keeps the Raider qualification. In 2003 this battalion changes into Yonif-400/Raider together with other nine infantry battalion to make new-raider battalion, but this new-raider battalion wasn’t have airborne ability.

The best personnel from the airborne battalion also recruited become army special forces (Kopassus) with added commando qualification in commando training center in Batujajar. The airborne brigade also becoming main part of the armed forces Rapid Reaction Strike Forces (PPRC) together with troops from the marine. In the army, airborne become high-ranking hierarchy in the army structure. Most of the airborne officer lead the strategically position in the Indonesian army or armed forces. The sixth Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was former 17th Airborne Brigade commander from 1993-1994.