Abstract
The state border is a geographical area which become an arena for power struggle between countries, where some countries struggling to expand the boundaries among them. As a state security and defence keeper, the Indonesian Air Force should be in the front-line while safeguarding the border area of the Republic of Indonesia, especially in the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) from transnational threats, especially human trafficking, radicalism and terrorism, border disputes, and smuggling problems. This study argued that in relation to the border guard strategy by the Air Force, the change in the status of the El Tari Lanud from type C to type B is an effort to improve its ability to carry out its duties. In the field of defense, the role of the Air Force becomes dominant, as they should have the ability to secure the sovereignty of the country in the air along with other components. This study employs a descriptive analysis method with a specific data collection technique to validate the findings. Thus, the findings of this study showed that we need a new Indonesian air strategy (grand aero-strategy) that expected to be able to establish joint operations for all elements of Air Force defence operation. This strategy is needed to secure Indonesia's air sovereignty and accommodate all national air potentials at the operational level. With a well-prepared strategy, the problems in the NTT border area will decrease positively.
Keywords: Lanud El Tari, NTT, state border; sovereignty.