22 February 2021

Indonesian MoD reveals aircraft procurement plans

by Ridzwan Rahmat

Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has published a seemingly ambitious list of big-ticket items that it is proposing to acquire for its air force over the next four years.

These include Dassault Rafale and Boeing F-15EX Advanced Eagle multirole fighters, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transports, and Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

The list was disclosed in the 2021 edition of a yearly publication for Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia: TNI) and MoD staff known as the ‘Leadership Assembly’. The publication, which featured opening remarks from TNI Chief Air Vice Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, was released in mid-February.

An Indian Air Force Rafale multirole fighter aircraft. Indonesia’s MoD published in mid-February a list of big-ticket items it is proposing to Jakarta for procurement over the next four years. The list includes Rafale and F-15EX fighters, as well as C-130J, A330 MRTT aircraft, and UAVs. (Dassault Aviation/G. Gosset)

“For the Indonesian Air Force, we will refurbish our entire fleet of fighter aircraft and we have secured the funds for this except for the replacement of the Hawks,” said Prabowo in his remarks, in reference to the country’s fleet of BAE Hawk 109/209s.

“[There will be] 36 units of the Rafale multirole combat aircraft from France and 36 units of the F-15EX, of which an eight initial units are being expected and six of these should arrive before 2022,” said the minister.

In addition to the fighter aircraft, the ministry also included 15 C-130Js, two A330 MRTTs, 30 ground-controlled interception radar stations, and three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into a procurement wish list known as the ‘Blue Book’.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has published a seemingly ambitious list of big-ticket items t...

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