Indonesia receives US State Dept approval for sale of 36 F-15EX Eagle II fighters

 

Artist rendering of the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II fighter. Photo c/o Boeing.

The US State Department has approved the potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program of Boeing F-15EX Eagle II fighter aircraft to Indonesia, with up to 36 aircraft considered with an estimated cost of US$13.9 billion.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has released information on this potential sale on 10 February 2022, which has now been notified to the US Congress.

Among those included in the proposal are 36 F-15ID aircraft (Indonesian-specific variant), 87 F110-GE-129 or F100-PW-229 engines (including spares), 45 AN/APG-82(v)1 Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars (including spares), 45 AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability Systems (EPAWSS); 48 Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP) II digital computers (including spares); 80 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS) (including spares); 92 Embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (EGI) security devices; 40 AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN navigation pods (including spares); 40 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) (including spares); 156 LAU-128 launchers (including spares); and 40 M61A “Vulcan” gun systems (including spares). 

Also included are Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation (ACMI) (P5 CTS) training pods and support equipment; MS-110 Recce Pods; AN/ASG-34 Infrared Search and Track International; AN/ALE-47 counter-measures dispenser; AN/PYQ Simple Key Loaders; additional precision navigation, secure communications and cryptographic equipment; Electronic Combat International Security Assistance Program (ECISAP) support; Joint Mission Planning Systems (JMPS); Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and support equipment and spares; conformal fuel tanks; chaff and flares; aircraft and personnel support and test equipment; pylons, launcher adaptors, weapons interfaces, fuel tanks, and attached hardware; travel pods, precision measurement equipment laboratory, calibration, and simulators; spare and repair parts, repair and return services; maps, publications, and technical documentation; studies and surveys; classified/unclassified software and software support; personnel training and training equipment; facilities and facility management, design and/or construction services; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

The US Government believes that the sale will not alter the basic military balance of power in the region, and will improve Indonesia’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing increased deterrence and air defense coverage across a very complex air and maritime domain.

Indonesia has been in the global market for fighter aircraft as the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) plans to increase its air combat capability in line with growing security threats in the region. This is also after dropping plans to procure the Russian Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E due to disagreements in counter-trade, and issues regarding CAATSA.

This week, Indonesia and France confirmed a deal for 42 new Rafale fighters has been signed in Jakarta, as French Defense Minister Florence Parly visited her Indonesian counterpart, Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesia is also participating in the development of the KF-21 Boramae fighter with South Korea under the KFX/IFX program.




[1] US DSCA
[2] Asia Pacific Defense Journal