Wing-1 Paskhas TNI-AU

Wing-1/Hardha Marutha Paskhas TNI-AU
1st Wing/Hardha Marutha Air Force Special Forces Corps

Wing-1 Paskhas is an operational unit equal with regiment that under Air Force Special Forces Corps (Korpaskhasau) supervision. Wing-1 symbol was Hardha Marutha, which get from Sanskrit language. “Hardha” mean sacred while “Marutha” mean wind. In this symbol implement that these forces will have quick reaction to cover every area in Nusantara. Motto for Wing-1 is “act right and fast”

Wing-1 headquarter was in Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta and commanding Paskhas unit in western region of Indonesia starting from 461/Cakra Baskara and 467/Hardha Dedali battalion in Jakarta, 462/Pulanggeni battalion in Pekanbaru, 465/Brajamusti in Pontianak, A (independent / BS) company in Medan, B (BS) company in Kalijati, G (BS) company in Lhokseumawe, H (BS) company in Banda Aceh. In future plan, the A company in Medan will advanced become 468 battalion in Polonia Air Force Base. Ideally, Wing-1 Paskhas needs 2.500 personnel for its organization.

Wing-1 Paskhas personnel as an integral part of Air Force having their own specialty. This specialty was on duty that they are facing. Paskhas personnel having qualification and special ability to protect, defense and operate Air Field facilities. Air Force having high technology weapons system that becomes vital object to destroy by enemy forces.

Basic qualification for Paskhas personnel was Para-Commando; other qualification added based on his specialty. As Combat Control team (CCT) they have combat free fall ability, scuba diving and combat climber. CCT must be able to infiltrate from three media aspects (sea, air, land). Beside that, this team personnel must have one of the air aspect specialization such as Air Traffic Controller (PLLU), Meteorology (Meteo), Electronic-Communication (Komlek), Combat Field Engineer (Zeni), Intelligence, Fire Fighter (PK), Ground handling, Petroleum affairs (Permi), and Combat-Health affairs (Keslap). For free fall qualification they must brave enough to jump high and open his parachute in minimum high. Airborne technique that used was HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) or HAHO (High Altitude High Opening) with jump around 20.000 feet above sea level.

CCT also having qualification to direct fighter plane to bombing or shooting the target from the ground (Ground Forward Air Control/GFAC). This role was very important in battle because Air Support must be precise on time and target. Wing-1 personnel must be able to use IT and to communicate with multimedia tools. Beside of that, they also demanding to have combat intelligence ability as a collection board (Bapul) for higher command or other side that needed. For example, informing about flight facilities before plane arrived, visibility, wind speed and direction, temperature and air humidity also height and cloud type. This was very important factor in bombing target and for the airborne process. All the personnel also having Combat-Field Engineer (include pioneer, rope, etc), Air Field Control (Dallan) to operate flight in some aerodrome. Air Traffic Control (PLLU), which can control flight traffic in their sector area. Petroleum Affairs (Permi) to know and testing the oil standard that fulfill the conditions and the way to fill the oil in to the airplane. This special qualification surely not having by the all-Indonesian armed forces soldier.

Because Paskhas was commando forces, they rarely involve many personnel in their operation. Paskhas also using unusual calls when they doing combat mission such as detachment, team and unit to difference them from regular forces. It must be honestly admitted that there is no commando forces like Paskhas in the world.