TNI-AU fields 24 ex-USAF F-16C/D Block 25 airframes modified to Block 32 standards. These jets use the P&W F100-PW-220 turbofan engines as well.
Used Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle fighter jets Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engines are being considered for export to Indonesia, The Yomiuri Shimbun reports.
The idea is for these engines to be installed in Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU, Indonesian Air Force) F-16 fighter jets.
An agreement concerning the transfer of defense equipment and technology has already been signed by the Japanese and Indonesian governments have already signed. The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that since “The engines of F-15 and F-16 aircraft have similarities, so Tokyo has concluded that it can respond to Jakarta’s request for such engines.”
TNI-AU signed a contract in January 2012 for the procurement of 24 ex-USAF F-16C/D Block 25 airframes. These were modified to Block 32 standards before being delivered to Indonesia. According to Alert 5 these jets use the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan engines as well.
As already reported half of the 200 F-15s currently in service with the JASDF have not been updated to the Multi-Stage Improvement Program (MSIP) configuration that allows these fighters to have wiring support to fire newer air-to-air missiles. Therefore, these jets will be decommissioned from service and replaced by the F-35.
As a result, approximately 200 F100 turbofan engines mounted on JASDF F-15Js will have to be disposed of when they are retired.
The operational guidelines of Japan’s Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology currently limit the overseas transfer of defense equipment to the purposes of “rescue, transportation, vigilance, surveillance or minesweeping.”
Parts are currently not included in the scope of the guidelines. Exporting them is permitted, however, in the case of international joint development with parts exported to the United States in the past.
With China in mind, the government aims to prevent any situation in the Indo-Pacific in which the status quo is changed by force. It is believed that by seeking to export these engines to Indonesia, Japan also wants to create a desirable security environment for itself.
Japan and Indonesia, as maritime nations, have been making progress in defense cooperation in recent years.
Photo credit: Alex R. Lloyd / U.S. Air Force and Maryu via Wikipedia
