Indonesia has confirmed plans to buy 42 Chinese-built Chengdu J-10 fighter aircraft under a defense modernization program scheduled to begin in 2026. The announcement was made in Jakarta on October 15, 2025, following months of technical evaluations and budget verification by the Ministry of Defense. Officials said the deal aligns with Indonesia’s airpower strategy while talks over the U.S. F-15EX purchase continue.
Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, confirmed that the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) will acquire Chengdu J-10 (or J-10C) fighter jets from China, officially marking the country’s first major combat aircraft procurement from Beijing in over a decade. The announcement followed President Prabowo Subianto’s official visit to Beijing in September 2025, where defense cooperation and the potential purchase of 42 J-10 “Vigorous Dragon” aircraft were discussed with Chinese leaders. During a press briefing at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Jakarta on October 15, 2025, Sjafrie stated that the aircraft “will soon be flying in Jakarta,” without providing technical details or specifying the expected delivery date. The confirmation coincided with remarks by several senior officials who indicated that technical evaluations and budget verifications are still in progress. The Defense Ministry’s spokesman, Brigadier General Frega Wenas Inkiriwang, said the acquisition is being reviewed within the framework of the Perisai Trisula Nusantara strategy, which aims to strengthen Indonesia’s layered air defense posture while ensuring compatibility with existing systems.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa acknowledged that a $9 billion budget allocation proposed by the Defense Ministry has been approved as part of the national expenditure plan for fiscal year 2026. However, he clarified that he must verify whether this allocation directly covers the purchase of J-10 fighters or a broader category of modernization projects. He explained that the funds have been approved but require confirmation regarding import schedules and procurement phasing. According to his statements to national media on October 15, 2025, the Defense Ministry’s funding requests “have been fulfilled,” although the timing of disbursement and the method of payment, potentially involving a Chinese financing arrangement, remain under verification. As previously reported by Army Recognition, the announcement followed several months of negotiations, beginning with Air Chief Marshal M. Tonny Harjono’s visit to China’s Air Show in May 2025, where Chinese officials presented the J-10 to Indonesian delegations. Following that visit, the Air Force initiated internal assessments focusing on combat range, payload capacity, maintenance requirements, and integration potential within Indonesia’s operational network.
The Ministry of Defense has emphasized that the procurement process aligns with Indonesia’s long-standing policy of non-alignment, allowing acquisitions from any nation capable of meeting the armed forces’ technical and operational requirements. Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto explained that Indonesia’s autonomy in defense sourcing ensures flexibility in responding to changing regional conditions and technological developments. He added that system compatibility, pricing, and after-sales support are key considerations in evaluating Chinese offers, which also include proposals for additional military equipment such as frigates. Indonesian officials noted that discussions on the J-10 had previously stalled due to budgetary uncertainties but have resumed under the current leadership, potentially through a direct state-to-state financing mechanism. Reports from early September 2025 indicated that the deal could be announced at an upcoming Indo Defence Expo, pending final government review. The acquisition, if finalized at 42 aircraft, would make Indonesia the only country to operate both the Rafale and the J-10 concurrently, creating one of the most diverse fighter fleets in Southeast Asia.