Indonesia to buy 42 fighter jets from China marking its first non-Western aircraft purchase deal

https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-china-fighter-jets-purchase-deal-fd8fda417ddbb059d7e3be917d1e9fb1

Posted by Lone-T

6 comments

  1. SS: Indonesia’s announcement of a $9B+ deal to acquire 42 Chinese Chengdu J-10C fighter jets—its first major non-Western aircraft purchase—signals a bold pivot in Southeast Asian military sourcing amid escalating regional tensions. Under President Prabowo Subianto’s diversification push (including Rafales from France and KAANs from Turkey), this move deepens Jakarta-Beijing ties while risking sensitivities over South China Sea disputes, where Indonesia’s Natuna Islands overlap China’s expansive claims. As analysts warn of a potential “shift in security orientation,” does this hedge against U.S. unreliability or embolden China’s assertiveness in ASEAN’s backyard?

  2. that’s a steal honestly

    (well in money and cost efficiency terms)

  3. Is there a particular reason why Indonesia’s inventory is so diverse? I remember they also operate Soviet-Russian, US and Euro stuff.

  5. So these will join token numbers of F-16s (US origin), Su-27 and Su-30 (Russia), Hawk 200s (UK), KAI T-50 (South Korea), and EMB-314 Super Tucanos (Brazil).

    And that doesn’t include the recently-ordered Rafale (France), F-15EX (US), or KAAN (Turkey) fighter jets, all ordered between 2022 and 2025. I understand diversifying the fleet supply chain and balancing geopolitical priorities, but that is an absolutely wild fleet mix, especially given the comparatively small fleet numbers of each type. Crazy!

  6. This is because corruption. Like all military deals in Indonesia.

    Indonesia has F16 and Su27s and now a third China made airframe. They can barely keep what they have in the air.

    But many people got paid a slice including probably the President of Indonesia.

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