Australia was once terrorized by AURI bombers!

A secret infiltration mission by an AURI (Indonesian Air Force) Tupolev Tu-16 "Badger A" bomber into the heart of the Australian continent in mid-1963 stands as one of the most daring psychological warfare operations in Indonesian military history.

The detailed account of this covert mission is recorded in history as follows:

1. Background and Secret Orders

In mid-1963, tensions surrounding *Operasi Dwikora* (the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation) were at their peak. Australia, as a member of the British Commonwealth, openly supported Malaysia and assisted in strengthening air defenses in the region.

To issue a stern warning against further Australian interference, the leadership of the AURI devised a special operation. They deployed three Tu-16 bombers. Two aircraft were sent to the Malaysian territories (Sarawak, Sandakan, and Kinabalu) to drop propaganda leaflets. The third aircraft, however, was assigned the most perilous mission: to fly deep into the Australian continent.

2. Brief Preparation and a Unique Cargo

The mission was led by Air Commodore Suwondo (who later retired with the rank of Air Vice Marshal). Shortly before the operation, the entire crew was summoned to Wing 003 at Iswahjudi Air Force Base in Madiun—around 11:00 PM Western Indonesian Time—for an impromptu briefing.

One of the crew members, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Sjahroemsjah—who served as a gunner—recounted that the pilot simply instructed them to gather, bringing only water, without providing much explanation. It was only upon assembling that they learned their destination was Australia. Unlike a typical bombing mission, the payload carried by the Tu-16 on this occasion did not consist of destructive bombs, but rather military logistical supplies, including:

• Military-grade parachutes

• Communication/radio equipment

• Canned food rations

• All of these items were intentionally marked with clear labels reading: "Made in Indonesia."

3. Stealthy Flight Beneath Radar (Sea Skimming)

At precisely 01:00 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB), the roar of the Tu-16’s twin Mikulin AM-3M jet engines shattered the silence at Iswahjudi Air Force Base. The aircraft took off into the darkness, heading south across the Indian Ocean.

To evade Australian air defense radar, Air Commodore Suwondo piloted the massive bomber using a "sea-skimming" technique—flying at an extremely low altitude just above the sea surface. This method is exceptionally hazardous for an aircraft the size of a Tu-16, as even the slightest navigational error could cause it to strike the water. Nevertheless, the maneuver succeeded in keeping the Tu-16’s silhouette below the horizon of the adversary’s radar detection range.

4. Drop Zone: Alice Springs

The designated drop zone for the cargo was Alice Springs, a small town situated at the very geographic center—the heart—of the Australian continent.

The choice of Alice Springs was not arbitrary. Although this desert region was under strict surveillance and monitoring, the Indonesian Tu-16 managed to penetrate the area completely undetected. Upon reaching the coordinates for Alice Springs, the bomb bay doors were opened, and the supplies—complete with their "Made in Indonesia" labels—were parachuted down onto Australian soil.

The psychological message behind this mission was devastatingly clear: "If we can drop canned food and radios at the very heart of your territory without being detected, we could just as easily drop bombs whenever we choose." 

5. Returning to Madiun at the Crack of Dawn

Having successfully jettisoned its payload, Suwondo immediately turned the aircraft around for the return flight. Because the return route took a wide detour for security reasons, dawn had already broken by the time the Tu-16 approached the island of Java.

The aircraft landed safely back at Iswahjudi Air Force Base in Madiun at approximately 08:00 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB), with the sun already well above the horizon. Throughout the mission, Australia’s air defense system—including its F-86 Sabre interceptors and Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles—remained completely unaware of the intrusion.

6. Impact and Panic in Australia

The following day, when the Australian military discovered Indonesian military equipment scattered across the desert near Alice Springs, it caused an uproar among both military officials and the general public. They were shocked that their supposedly sophisticated radar system had been bypassed by an Indonesian strategic bomber.

This psychological warfare mission was a resounding success. The psychological impact of this daring flight forced Australia to completely overhaul its air defense strategy and think twice about engaging in an open, direct confrontation with the Indonesian military during that era.