Indonesia cleared to buy up to 36 F-15ID Aircraft, signs contract to buy 42 Dassault Rafale Fighters

The Indonesian Air Force chief said on Feb. 18, 2021 that his country would have purchased F-15EX jets from Boeing and Rafale fighter aircraft from Dassault.

The US State Department has made a determination on Feb. 10, 2022 approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Indonesia of F-15ID aircraft. According to Transmittal No 22-13, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

As noted by Alert 5, the sale package includes MS-110 Recce Pods and AN/ASG-34 Infrared Search and Track equipment.

The Pentagon says the proposed sale will improve Indonesia’s capability to meet current and future threats by enabling it to provide increased deterrence and air defense coverage across a very complex air and maritime domain.

Boeing will be the main contractor and the FMS is estimated to cost $13.9 billion.

Moreover, on the same day Indonesia has signed a contract to buy 42 Dassault Rafale fighters.

In the presence of the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, and the Indonesian Minister of Defence, Prabowo Subianto, the Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, and the Air Vice Marshal Yusuf Jauhari, Head of Defence Facilities Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, signed the contract for the acquisition by Indonesia of 42 latest-generation Rafale aircraft, at a ceremony held today in Jakarta.

The Rafale acquisition for the Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (Indonesian National Army Air Force) includes a complete turnkey solution, with a comprehensive package that covers aircrew training, logistical support for several Indonesian air bases, and a training center with two full-mission simulators.

According to a Dassault Aviation press release, the Rafale’s unique “omnirole” capability will provide Indonesia with a tool for sovereignty and operational independence, reinforcing its role as a major regional power.

Indonesian industry will benefit from a substantial industrial return, not only in the aeronautical sector, but also in all the other major areas of cooperation relating to the broad portfolio of dual technologies mastered by Dassault Aviation and its industrial partners, Safran Aircraft Engines and Thales.

As already reported, the Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU, Indonesian Air Force) chief Air Marshal Fajar Prasetyo said on Feb. 18, 2021 that his country would have purchased F-15EX jets from Boeing and Rafale fighter aircraft from Dassault.

Hence the F-15ID could be a version of the F-15EX specifically tailored for TNI-AU.

Indonesia originally elected the Su-35 to replace TNI-AU aging F-5E Tiger II fleet: in August 2017 the country announced a barter deal under which Jakarta was planning to purchase 11 Sukhoi Su-35 jets in exchange for Russia buying goods such as rubber, crude palm oil, coffee, tea, furniture and spices.

The Su-35 competed with several western fighters including Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, F-16V Viper, and Saab JAS 39 Gripen.

But in March 2020 it was reported that Washington warned Jakarta that buying the Russian fighters will risk the South East Asian country being penalized under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. For this reason the US offered the F-16 to Indonesia in return but Jakarta is more keen on buying the F-35 instead.

Then it was reported that in a September 2020 letter Austria’s Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner responded to her Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto initial letter dated Jul. 10, 2020 where he expressed interest in buying Austrian Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters.

For Indonesia buying used weapons from other countries, such as the Austrian Typhoons, is an option to meet Minimum Essential Force targets, while the second is to buy all its military hardware brand new for higher quality.

Photo credit: Boeing and U.S. Air Force