Indonesia gives up on Russian aircraft purchase, instead turning to US and French options

[INS_Vikrant]

It was obvious as they need American GE engines for their new fighter being developed with South Korea and they won't be getting it if they get Sanctioned for purchasing Russian aircraft.

Although F15EX is superior aircraft however American jets comes with lots of strings attached, they should go with Rafales.

 

[Shotgunner51]

our defense budget sits on 0.8 % of our total GDP

That's very mean budget, even meaner than China's 1.25%! No wonder why you have so much budget for new infrastructure.

I think as second tier partner of USA ( Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia is first tier) we cannot upgrade our 32 F16 into V standard yet. US only allows Indonesia ( at the mean time ) to buy new F 16 V from Lockheed Martin. This is why our F16 falcon star program never reach the sophistication of V standard.

Regardless of that, USA allows the refurbished and upgrade program to be conducted by Indonesian AirForce and Indonesian Aerospace together with supervision from Lockheed Martin engineers (2 persons)

Su-35 and F-15EX are twin-hi-thrust heavy jets, expensive to maintain & operate and not budget-friendly. You already got a sizable fleet of Su-27/30 so might as well focus on medium jets aka F-16.

The Falcon STAR (Structural Augmentation Roadmap) & enhanced mid-life upgrade (EMLU) program seems OK, anyway other than Taiwan none of the mentioned has chosen V, there are many less costly tailor-made upgrade plans for F-16. The program (if possible get a 14.5 tons F110-GE-132) will keep your medium MRCA fleet afresh and technologically superior to Rafale which is costly and powered by a pair of very weak medium-thrust (7.5 tons M88).

F-16 Indonesia

TO DATE, 4,588 F-16S HAVE BEEN PRODUCED FOR 28 CUSTOMERS. THE F-16 CONTINUES TO EVOLVE TO STAY AHEAD OF EMERGING THREATS BY INCORPORATING COMBAT LESSONS-LEARNED AND CAPABILITIES DEVELOPED ON LOCKHEED MARTIN’S F-22 AND F-35.

www.lockheedmartin.com