Indonesian Air Force Make Sure To Buy Rafale Fighters And F-15 EX

Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Air Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo /ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Air Force has confirmed that it will buy 4.5 generation fighter aircraft, namely the Dassault Rafale made in France and the F-15 EX made in the United States.

"We want a generation 4.5 aircraft and want a 'heavy' or medium and above. Because we currently have the F-16, we already have Sukhoi made in Russia," said Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Marshal TNI Fadjar Prasetyo as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 22.

Currently, he continued, the choice of purchasing fighter aircraft is narrowed to two aircraft, namely the French-made Rafale aircraft and the United States-made F-15 EX.

"This is also the result of thinking from the Ministry of Defense," said Marshal Fadjar.

Regarding the planned purchase of the Sukhoi Su-35, Fadjar said it would be abandoned.

"Sukhoi Su-35 with a heavy heart, yes, we have to leave the plan because we came back from the beginning, we mentioned that the development of air power is very dependent on the budget," explained Fadjar.

The presence of these fighter aircraft will increase the strength of the Indonesian Air Force in maintaining the sovereignty of Indonesian airspace from enemy threats.

"If there are two or three squadrons, God willing (more than 30 planes)," said Kasau.

According to Fadjar, Defense Minister (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto has given an explanation to the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas regarding the budget for the procurement of fighter aircraft that will be used for the next 30-40 years.

"There is nothing in the strategic plan, this is indeed the opinion of the Minister of Defense with input from us as well," he said.

The former Pangkogabwilhan II admitted that the team from the F-15 EX had met him to discuss the plan to procure the fighter aircraft.

"This is a little information, the F-15 EX team has come to me. I asked if today we agreed on the first initial unit we will receive about when? The answer is yes, around 2027," said Marshal Fadjar.