Indonesia Reportedly Considering Buying Over 40 Chinese J-10 Fighter Jets

Udumbara Udumbara
May 30, 2025 - 10:17 Updated: May 29, 2025 - 20:54
0
Indonesia Reportedly Considering Buying Over 40 Chinese J-10 Fighter Jets

Indonesia is reportedly seeking to replace its aging air fleet with dozens of Chinese and Russian fighter aircraft.

The news comes as following concerns about a potential Russian air base being established in the southeast Asian country just north of Australia.

According to the aviation website Alert 5, Indonesia is considering buying 42 second-hand Chinese J-10 fighter jets and may also acquire Russian Su-35 aircraft—Indonesia has bolstered ties with Russia since the election of the new government, even holding defence exercises.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the website reported that the official announcement of the deals might be revealed at the Indo Defence Expo and Forum in June 2025.

While the deals have not been confirmed by any country involved, they signal a significant shift in Indonesia’s air force strategy, which has a tradition of using Western aircraft.

Indonesia’s current air force is primarily composed of fighter jets from the United States and allied countries, including the F-16, British Hawk 209, and Korean T-50i.

It also operates a smaller number of Russian-made Su-30 and Su-27 aircraft.

In 2017, Indonesia announced a plan to buy 11 Russian Su-35 fighters to replace its F-5 Tiger aircraft. However, the plan was later cancelled due to the United States’ sanctions on Russia.

In February 2022, Indonesia signed a deal with France to procure 42 Rafale jets with a total value of US$8.1 billion (A$12.6 billion).

Why Indonesia Wants Chinese and Russian Fighter Jets?

Alert 5 stated that Indonesia’s shift to Chinese and Russian fighter jets was driven by the country’s need for rapid delivery capabilities that could not be met by Western manufacturers.
“Both Chinese and Russian aircraft could potentially offer faster delivery timelines compared to Western alternatives, which often involve lengthy production queues and complex approval processes,” the website reported.

“The second-hand J-10 fighters will be delivered relatively quickly by drawing from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s inventory, providing immediate capability enhancement.”

.

.

While purchasing Chinese-made fighter aircraft may help address Indonesia’s urgent need for enhanced air defence capabilities, the plan is not without its costs.

The aviation website pointed out that adding J-10 fighters to its current fleet could create significant budget and operational challenges for Indonesia’s air force as the aircraft requires additional training pipelines, maintenance facilities, spare parts, and weapons systems.

Alert 5’s report comes just one month after the Indonesian government denied allegations that it was seeking permission to house long-range Russian aircraft at the Manuhua Air Force Base, around 1,300 kilometres north of Australia’s Darwin.

While the Australian government has dismissed concerns about a potential Russian base in Indonesia, with one defence expert warning against overlooking the broader context of Indonesia-Russia military cooperation.
The Epoch Times has reached out the Australian Defence Department for comment.

Indonesia Leaning Closer to Beijing

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has sought to bolster ties with Moscow and Beijing since coming to power.

In November 2024, Prabowo visited China on his first overseas trip to affirm the “friendship” between the two countries.

During the meeting with CCP leaders, the Indonesian president said it was “natural” under the current geopolitical and geoeconomic situation for Indonesia and China to become very close partners in many fields.
Prabowo later secured a US$10 billion trade deal with CCP leaders.
.
.

China is currently Indonesia’s largest trading partner, with the value of bilateral trade nearly tripling from US$52.45 billion in 2013 to $135.17 billion in 2024.

In January 2025, Indonesia officially joined BRICS—a bloc of major emerging economies supported by Russia, India, and China—which positions itself as a counterweight to the democratic West.

Just this month, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Indonesia to discuss ways to expand trade and investment with the country amid the ongoing tariff war with the United States.

At the meeting with Li, Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to strengthen its strategic partnership with Beijing and hoped to share the “goodness” of this relationship with the entire Asian region.

.

Read More