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The upgrade packages included 60 Air Force) from France, complet- fighters in August last year.
F-16 aircraft, which also received ing a 2022 order for 42 of these “This platform will put Indonesia
munitions such as GBU-39 small warplanes. at the top of air dominance capa-
diameter bombs and CBU-105 bilities,” said Mark Sears, Boeing
sensor fuzed weapons. The RSAF’s “The omni-role Rafale is a Fighters vice president and program
F-16s first entered service in 1998. unique asset that will ensure manager.
Between 1998 and 2004, Singapore
bought 62 F-16C/Ds, from the Block Indonesia’s sovereignty and The F-15 jets acquired by Indonesia
52 cohort, in multiple batches. The operational independence will be designated as F-15IDN and
F-16 upgrades started in 2016, with and reinforce its role as a modelled after the F-15EX, which
the enhancements taking place in major regional power,” Boeing promotes as the most
phases in the years since. said Eric Trappier, Chairman and advanced iteration of the F-15.
CEO of Dassault Aviation. For
Like Singapore, other countries in Dassault Aviation, the deal with “The F-15EX is the most advanced
the region such as Indonesia, the Indonesia helps French ambitions in version of the F-15 ever built, with
Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand the Indo-Pacific region, seen as an digital fly-by-wire flight controls,
are equipping their air forces with area of geo-strategic importance. a new electronic warfare system,
modern multi-role fighters. an all-glass digital cockpit, and
Besides the Rafale deal, in August the latest mission systems and
Indonesia’s Intention 2023, Indonesia announced its software capabilities, which will all
Indonesia has committed toward decision to procure F-15 Eagle be leveraged in delivering the new
procuring diverse fighter jets, sig- fighters from the United States. If F-15IDN,” Sears added.
naling a strategic move to bolster its approved by Washington, Indonesia
defence capabilities. will be the first client for the export Amid criticism, Indonesia early this
model of the Boeing F-15EX air year postponed its plan to acquire
Early January, Jakarta signed superiority fighter, rebranded as 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from
a contract for the third and final F-15IND. the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF)
tranche of 18 more latest-gener- due to “unavailability of funds for
ation Rafale jets for the Tentara The U.S. aircraft builder signed a the acquisition”. Defence ministry’s
Nasional Indonesia Angkatan memorandum of understanding with spokesperson, Dahnil Simanjuntak
Udara (Indonesian National Army Indonesia for the sale of 24 F-15 instead said Kemhan will take

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