JAKARTA - The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has purchased 12 new fighter jets, namely the M-346 F Block 20, made by the Italian weapons system main equipment (alutsista) company Leonardo, to be used as training aircraft for the TNI AU fighter pilots.
"One of the considerations is to meet the training needs of the Indonesian Air Force pilots while supporting operational readiness," said the Head of the Defense Information Bureau (Karo Infohan) of the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General TNI Rico Ricardo Sirait, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, July 23.
Rico explained that the M-346 F Block 20 was chosen because the specifications and capabilities of the aircraft matched the air defense doctrine adopted by the TNI.
Apart from being in line with defense needs, Rico explained that the purchase of the fighter aircraft was also part of the TNI's efforts to modernize alutsista.
He believes that Indonesia's defense capabilities will be stronger as the quality of technology in the TNI increases.
Rico explained that this purchase contract had been signed and had been effective. According to him, if everything goes smoothly, the delivery of 12 fighter jets to Indonesia will begin in 2030.
Previously, the Indonesian Air Force also had a fighter plane that was specifically used for training pilots, the most recent of which was the T-50i fighter training plane purchased by Indonesia from South Korea. The plane is often used by pilots before operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Until now, the Indonesian Air Force has 22 T-50i aircraft and is stationed at Air Squadron 15 Iswahjudi Air Base, East Java.
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