State Department approves $14 billion F-15EX sale to Indonesia hours after Rafale deal
The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of 36 Boeing F-15EX aircraft to Indonesia in a $13.9 billion deal, just hours after Indonesia announced another major defense deal to buy French-made Dassault Rafale.
The package would include 36 jets, 72 installed and 15 spare engines, 45 Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, night vision goggles, 45 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability Systems (EPAWSS), 48 Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP) II digital computers, 80 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), 92 Embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (EGI) security devices, 40 navigation pods, 40 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), 156 LAU-128 launchers, and forty 40 M61A “Vulcan” gun systems, according to Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement. It also includes technical and logistics support service.
The proposed sale “will improve Indonesia’s capability to meet current and future threats by enabling it to provide increased deterrence and air defense, ” the DSCA statement said, adding the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
Boeing said that “The F-15 would provide the Indonesian Air Force with advanced, operationally relevant capabilities, a robust supply base, future technology roadmap and industrial cooperation opportunities for Indonesian industry.”
Indonesia buys 42 French Rafale jets
The announcement comes on the same day Indonesia ordered 42 Rafale fighter jets from France as Jakarta plans replace its aging fleet consisting mainly of American F-16s and Russian Sukhoi aircraft.
The Rafale agreement was announced as Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto met his French counterpart Florence Parly in Jakarta. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said the “strategic partnership will benefit from the deepening of our defence relations”, adding that France was proud to contribute to the modernization of armed forces within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed the signing of deals on submarine development, satellite procurement, and ammunition production and hoped that the defence partnerships goes beyond munition purchase and encompasses the development and joint production, technological transfer, and investment in defence industries.
Dassault CEO, Eric Trappier said “This contract marks the start of a long-term partnership that will see Dassault Aviation rapidly step up its presence in the country. It also demonstrates the strong bond between Indonesia and France.”
