‘We are going to be flying the F-15EX soon and it’s going to be awesome!’ 173rd FW Commander on transition from F-15C to F-15EX

Indonesian Air Force chief of staff hopes to have six F-15EX fighters bought by 2022

By Dario Leone
Feb 21 2021
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Indonesia plans to buy 36 Rafale and eight F-15EX jets.

The Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU, Indonesian Air Force) chief Air Marshal Fajar Prasetyo said on Feb. 18, 2021 that his country will purchase F-15EX jets from Boeing and Rafale fighter aircraft from Dassault between 2021 and 2024.

According to AA.com.tr, Indonesia will also buy C-130J transport planes and medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicles, Prasetyo explained at the annual Air Force Leadership Meeting.

According to the meeting’s summary document, Indonesia plans to buy 36 Rafale and eight F-15EX jets, with six of the latter expected to arrive by 2022.

Along with the new additions, the air force will also modernize its existing combat aircraft this year, Prasetyo said.

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 letter Austria’s Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner responded to her Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto initial letter dated Jul. 10 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.

Bold Tigers F-15E print
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-15E Strike Eagle 366th Fighter Wing, 391st Fighter Squadron, MO/90-0249 – Mountain Home AFB, ID – 2008

Photo credit: Boeing


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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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