Indonesia is still “considering” acquiring Chinese J-10 fighter jets, but no decision has been made yet, according to Jakarta’s Ministry of Defence, clarifying earlier reports that the country was set to buy up to 42 units to modernise its military.
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“It’s still being analysed and reviewed. At the moment, we are considering all platforms that can fulfil our need to help guard our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” ministry spokesman Brigadier General Frega Wenas Inkiriwang said.
On October 16, local and newswire agencies quoted Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as saying the J-10 “will be flying in Jakarta shortly” but gave no details.
The following week, Sjamsoeddin said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, as the supreme commander of the armed forces, would be the one to decide whether to buy the J-10s, according to local news outlet Tempo. Prabowo has not made a decision.
Observers say the J-10s would be cheaper than other fighters on the market but adding them to the Indonesian Air Force would complicate operations within its own military and with the armed forces of other countries.
First developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation in the 1980s as China’s third-generation fighter jet, the J-10 series has in recent years been upgraded to the 4.5-generation J-10C and become one of Beijing’s major defence industry products.