Indonesia has signed a deal to purchase 42 Chengdu J-10C fighter jets, manufactured in China, in a transaction valued at over US$ 9 billion.
The acquisition marks the country’s first major purchase of aircraft from non-traditional Western suppliers such as the United States, Russia, and Europe. The Minister of Defense, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, confirmed that the jets are expected to begin operating over Jakarta soon, although no details on delivery or operational specifics have been disclosed.
The Ministry of Finance approved the budget for the purchase earlier this year, and the process has now entered the implementation phase, according to Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. The decision was publicly announced last month, with local analysts noting that the Indonesian Air Force evaluated the J-10C based on its compatibility with their modernization goals and airspace defense needs.
The country’s current fleet includes American F-16s, French Rafales, Russian Su-27 and Su-30s, and British Hawk jets. With many of these aircraft nearing obsolescence or requiring expensive upgrades, the purchase of the J-10C represents a strategic step in renewing and diversifying Indonesia’s air defense.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @Defence_Index | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
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Indonesia signs $9B deal to buy 42 Chinese J-10C jets — its first-ever non-Western fighter purchase. pic.twitter.com/FcijGPgfIb
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