The inventory includes 33 F-16 Fighting Falcons as the main fighters (from the United States) supplemented by five Su-27 and eleven Su-30 (from Russia), Hawk 200, KAI T-50 and Embraer EMB 314.

[6] As of 2023, the Indonesian Air Force purchased 42 Rafale from France,[7] along with C-130J transport aircraft and a Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle.

Tactically, these raids did not have any effect on the Dutch positions, but psychologically, it was a great success as it proved that the Indonesian Air Force still existed.

The Dutch had previously claimed the destruction of Indonesian Air Force in their assault before and they never expected any attack from the sky.

Several Indonesian pilots scored their first kills, including Captain Ignatius Dewanto with his North American P-51 Mustang, who in 1958 shot down a Permesta Douglas B-26 Invader over Ambon.

The most famous Indonesian fighter pilot in this era was Rusmin Nurjadin, who became Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 1966 to 1969.

[11][12] To add with all these purchases was the first ever surface to air defence missile operated by Southeast Asians, the Soviet-designed S-75 Dvina, which were acquired in 1961.

[13][14] During Operation Trikora, the air force was deployed as follows: Indonesian MiG pilots received training to fly their fighter aircraft in Egypt before the infiltration campaign.

The Air Force launched Operation Lightning Strike (Indonesian: Operasi Samber Kilat) to support ground troops eradicate Sarawak communists that were present in West Kalimantan and along Indonesia-Malaysia border by dropping troops to the target area, dropping logistical assistance, VIP transportation, medical evacuation and recon flights.

The Indonesian Air Force had originally planned to acquire 60 F-16s to cover and defend its 12 million square kilometres of territory.

During this embargo, the Indonesian government turned to Russia to supply them with arms including fighters, helicopters, missiles, radars and other equipment.

[37] During the visit of US President Barack Obama on 9–10 November 2010, the TNI-AU was offered 24 ex-USAF F-16 Block 25 aircraft as part of the Peace Bima-Sena II agreement.

Starting in 2010,[42] Minister of Defence Purnomo Yusgiantoro stated that TNI-AU will gradually purchase a total of 180 Su-27s and Su-30s to complete the needs of 10 squadrons.

[52] On 29 December 2011 Indonesia committed to purchase 6 Su-30MK2 jet fighters in a US$470 million procurement contract signed by the Defence Ministry and Russia's JSC Rosoboronexport.

[55] In January 2014, Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that he hoped to start the replacement of the F-5 fighters under the upcoming 2015 to 2020 strategic plan.

The Indonesian Air Force shortlisted five candidates for the replacement, comprising the Sukhoi Su-35S, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and F-16C/D Block 60.

Although in recent times, the deal to purchase Su-35 is in limbo due to Russia's refusal to give transfer of technology to Indonesia owing its small number of orders in addition to Indonesian concerns over price.

[58] In January 2017, Indonesia approved for the acquisition of 5 Airbus A400M Atlas multi-role aircraft worth US$2 billion, as part of the plans to boost the country's military capabilities.

They are to be acquired in both transport and utility configurations and will be operated by the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) Aviation Squadrons 31 and 32.

[60] On 12 May 2017, Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu confirmed that the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) will sign contract to buy 10 Su-35s.

[63][64] Since 2017 the Indonesian Air Force with Lockheed Martin and Indonesian Aerospace is also upgrading their existing F-16A/B with the Falcon STAR eMLU upgrade program that include new avionics, new armament capability that could carry AMRAAM, and JDAM, new aircraft airframe that will last longer, Sniper ATP, LITENING, and Bird Slicer IFF.

[72] On 20 July 2020, a letter written by defence minister, Prabowo Subianto to his Austrian counterpart Klaudia Tanner, was published by Indonesian news outlets expressing interest in acquiring Austria's Luftstreitkräfte entire fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

[60] On 22 December 2021 during a Press Tour and Media Gathering, the Air Chief Marshall Fadjar Prasetyo confirmed that the Su-35 purchase will not go ahead.

[82][83] On 20 April 2022, PT Len Industri and Thales Group signed a strategic partnership agreement for further collaboration on a wide array of defence-related topics including radars, military satellites, electronic warfare, UAVs and combat management systems.

[85] Thales will be partnering with state-owned defence electronics firm PT Len Industri to supply Ground Master 403 (GM403) air surveillance radars and SkyView command-and-control (C2) system to Indonesia.

[86] On 18 June 2023 in a joint statement by Thales and PT Len it is revealed that Indonesia is ordering the Ground Master 400 Alpha (GM400α) variant.

[88] In November 2022, the Ministry of Finance of Indonesia has approved foreign loans to fund several Indonesian Air Force procurement programs, including the ex-Qatari Mirage 2000-5 proposal.

[89] In January 2024, the spokesperson for the Minister of Defence disclosed the planned procurement of Mirage 2000s has been postponed, citing fiscal limitations.

[91] On 27 September 2024, TNI-AU is planning to establish a Space Unit to secure national airspace, though it will take time due to high costs and complex preparations.

The Air Force is focused on regulatory, organizational, and resource preparation, recognizing the strategic importance of space in national defense.