TNI AU Conducts Weather Modification to Help Curb Forest and Land Fires

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) has once again conducted weather modification operations in East Kalimantan. It aimed at increasing the likelihood of rainfall and help curb forest and land fires, locally known as karhutla, on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Head of the TNI AU Information Office, First Marshal TNI I Nyoman Suadnyana, said the weather modification operation was targeted at areas with potential cloud growth, allowing cloud seeding to be carried out effectively to increase the likelihood of rainfall.

“The weather modification operation continues to be adjusted to weather conditions and the presence of clouds in the target areas. By conducting cloud seeding in areas with the potential to produce rainfall, we are working to help wet affected areas and reduce the risk of forest and land fires spreading,” I Nyoman said.

The operation was carried out in coordination with the TNI AU, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, and the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN). The target areas for cloud seeding were determined based on weather conditions, cloud growth potential, and rainfall requirements in the field.

For the operation, the TNI AU deployed a Casa NC-212 aircraft, tail number A-2105, from Dhomber Air Base to the target areas. The aircraft conducted two cloud-seeding sorties around the Sepaku Semoi Dam in East Kalimantan.

During the first sortie, cloud seeding was conducted south of the Sepaku Semoi Dam, covering areas of Balikpapan and North Penajam Paser, at an altitude of 10,000 feet using 800 kilograms of sodium chloride (NaCl).

During the second sortie, the aircraft targeted areas southwest to west of the Sepaku Semoi Dam at an altitude of 7,000 feet, using another 800 kilograms of NaCl. A total of 1.6 tons of NaCl was used in the two sorties.