22-8-2023 (JAKARTA) Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence and American aerospace giant Boeing have entered into an agreement for the purchase of 24 F-15EX fighter jets. This significant deal is part of Indonesia’s broader effort to modernize its ageing military aircraft fleet. The memorandum of understanding was officially signed at Boeing’s St. Louis, Missouri facility, although it’s important to note that the transaction is contingent on approval from the United States government.
Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto expressed the significance of this move, stating, “This state-of-the-art fighter will protect and secure our nation with its advanced capabilities,” according to a statement from Boeing.
Neither Boeing nor the Indonesian Defence Ministry disclosed specific financial details related to the agreement.
The F-15EX represents the pinnacle of the F-15 series, boasting digital fly-by-wire flight controls, a cutting-edge electronic warfare system, a digital cockpit, and the latest mission systems and software capabilities, as highlighted by Boeing.
Discussions regarding this planned procurement took place during the visit of the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, to Jakarta last year, where he engaged with Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo.
In recent years, Indonesia has increased its defence spending significantly to overhaul its military aircraft inventory. The nation’s existing fleet includes US-manufactured F-16s and Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 jets. This year alone, Jakarta invested a substantial $8.1 billion in the acquisition of 42 Dassault Rafale fighter jets.
Indonesia also recently purchased 12 used Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets in an $800 million deal, although this move drew criticism due to the perceived age of the aircraft.
Last year, the United States approved a potential sale of F-15ID aircraft and associated equipment to Indonesia, a deal estimated to be worth up to $13.9 billion.
A spokesperson for the Indonesian Defence Ministry noted, “After Rafale, the F-15 will make Indonesia a strong nation as we keep building a mature defence diplomacy.”
We’re honored to host Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto on a tour of our F-15 production line in St. Louis.
Indonesia is an important partner and we are humbled that they have chosen F-15 to advance their capabilities for the future.
More: https://t.co/DEegc15qkw pic.twitter.com/Hnz28Eoq0J
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) August 22, 2023
