Indonesia set to buy Chinese J-10 fighters amid push to modernise: minister

Indonesia’s top defence official says his country is set to acquire China’s J-10 fighter jets, possibly making it the second foreign military to operate the model after Pakistan.

Once finalised, the deal would also mark the first purchase of Chinese-made warplanes by Indonesia as part of its military modernisation plans.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Indonesia would soon buy the J-10 fighter jets from China as part of Jakarta’s plan to modernise its military, according to Indonesia’s national news wire Antara.

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“They will be flying over Jakarta soon,” Sjamsoeddin said, although he did not provide any details regarding the purchase timeline or the expected delivery date of the aircraft.

Indonesia’s finance minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa also confirmed on Wednesday that his ministry had approved a nearly US$9 billion budget for the purchase of the Chinese aircraft, but added that it must be “double-checked” when the jets would be delivered to his country’s military.

“So, everything should be ready,” Sadewa told reporters. “But I have to double check when those aircrafts will arrive in Jakarta from Beijing.”

Jakarta will buy “at least 42” of the jets, according to Associated Press.

The plan to buy the J-10s was revealed last month by Indonesian defence ministry spokesman Brigadier General Frega Wenas who said Jakarta wanted the “best military weapons”. It followed a statement in June by the deputy minister of defence, Donny Ermawan Taufanto, who said Indonesia had considered buying the jets after China had offered to sell them.

South China Morning Post