Prabowo: Purchase of F-15 EX Fighter Jets Awaits The Government's Final Decision

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JAKARTA - Defense Minister, Prabowo Subianto, said the purchase of 4.5-generation fighter jets from the United States F-15 EX awaits a final decision from the government.

"Negotiations (to buy the F-15s) are still ongoing. I think now it will depend on the government's final decision", Prabowo said after a meeting with US Defense Minister Lloyd J Austin III at the Jakarta Ministry of Defense reported by ANTARA, Monday, November 21.

According to him, the government's main priority at this time is to control the COVID-19 pandemic and be prepared to deal with the impact of food security conditions in Indonesia and the impact of inflation caused by rising energy prices around the world.

"So, the impact of the Ukraine war is very real and all warnings from international institutions, from the world bank IMF, ADB (Asian Development Bank), and warnings about the climate situation next year can affect our food production", he said.

This, he continued, would be a factor (consideration) in the Indonesian government's final decision.

"But, as Secretary of Defense, we have calculated, we have designed a joint program with the United States' industrial partners, which we have confidence in", he said.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Austin supports the Indonesian government's efforts to modernize the main weapon system (defense equipment).

"We certainly support ministers' efforts to continue to modernize their defense systems and capabilities and we want to continue to assist in any way we can", Austin said.

According to him, the F-16 already has healthy competition, the F-15 platform provides additional capabilities, and the two platforms complement each other.

"As you can see in US forces, we have several different types of platforms working together", he said.