Indonesia to buy F-15 fighter jets and Black Hawk transport helicopters from US

Asia-Pacific, News, US August 26, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The Indonesian government signed two separate deals with the U.S. defense giants to acquire 24 F-15EX fighter jets from Boeing and 24 Black Hawk helicopters from Lockheed Martin. The agreements will boast the Southeast Asian country’s efforts to modernize its air force.

Indonesia’s defense ministry announced that it signed the memorandum of understanding with the U.S.-based aviation giant Boeing. Under the deal, Indonesia would buy 24 F-15EX Eagle II multirole jets from Boeing. The deal still needs final approval from the U.S. government before it goes into action.

The agreement was signed between the Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Boeing Fighters vice president and program manager Mark Sears at Boeing’s production facility in St. Louis, U.S. Head of Indonesia’s Defense Facility Agency Air Vice Marshal Yusuf Jauhari was also present during the meeting.

According to a statement released by Boeing, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said, “We are pleased to announce our commitment to procure the critical F-15EX fighter capability for Indonesia.” He added, “This state-of-the-art fighter will protect and secure our nation with its advanced capabilities.”

Subianto traveled to the U.S. with a shopping list as he also met with the representatives of the U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin. The Indonesian defense minister signed a deal to purchase 24 Black Hawk transport helicopters.

*^{A pair of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 1st Battalion 228th Aviation Regiment provide aviation support during Operation Serpiente. (Image Credit: U.S. Army)}*

Under the deal, Lockheed Martin would collaborate with Indonesia’s state-owned company Dirgantara to produce Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk GFA-type helicopters. The helicopters are commonly used to “deliver and extract troops”. Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s defense minister, said the purchase could “increase the strength of Indonesia’s military.”

Indonesia’s increasing defense spending

Indonesia has rapidly increased its defense spending in recent times, particularly focusing on modernizing its aerial fleet by upgrading and purchasing new fighter and transport jets. Having received initial deliveries for France’s Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter jets, the Southeast Asian country is eyeing purchasing the U.S.-made F-16 and Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 jets.

Jakarta bought a total of 42 Rafael fighter jets from France last year for $8.1 billion and became one of the several international customers for the French-made Rafale jets in 2022. Around the same time, France also finalized a deal with Croatia for 12 Rafale fighters and the United Arab Emirates closed a deal with France to purchase 80 jets.

Earlier this month, Indonesia also announced a $300 million deal with Turkish Aerospace for its latest combat drones. It also purchased 12 used Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from Qatar this year in an $800 million deal that drew criticism as the aircraft was considered too old.