ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia has officially confirmed its plan to purchase 42 Chengdu J-10 “Vigorous Dragon” fighter jets (NATO codename: Firebird) from China in a landmark defense deal valued at USD 9 billion (approximately IDR 149 trillion).
Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, confirmed the acquisition, putting an end to weeks of speculation about the country’s next-generation air power buildup.
“They’ll be flying in Jakarta soon,” Minister Sjafrie said confidently to reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
The announcement marks a historic milestone for the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), as this will be the first time Indonesia operates a Chinese-made fighter aircraft amid its diverse fleet of Western and domestic platforms.
Follow-Up to President Prabowo’s Defense Diplomacy in Beijing
The acquisition of the J-10 fighters is widely seen as a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s official visit to Beijing in September 2025, during which defense cooperation was a key agenda item.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that the purchase of the new defense equipment is covered under the state budget (APBN) with a total allocation exceeding USD 9 billion, equivalent to around IDR 149 trillion (at an exchange rate of IDR 16,556 per USD).
“The budget for next year has been approved. But for the Chengdu J-10 purchase, I’m not sure which allocation it will use—perhaps a new one,” Purbaya told reporters.
He added that the government is still reviewing the exact timeline for the aircraft’s import and delivery schedule.
J-10B or J-10CE? The Variant Remains a Mystery
While the total number of units has been confirmed, the specific variant of the J-10 to be acquired remains unclear.
Sources in Jakarta suggest Indonesia is eyeing the J-10B, while others claim the more advanced J-10CE (the export version of the J-10C) is the likely choice.
The technical differences between the two variants are substantial:
The J-10B uses a PESA (Passive Electronically Scanned Array) radar and PL-12 missiles with a 70–100 km range.
The J-10CE features a state-of-the-art AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar and PL-15 long-range missiles with a reach of up to 300 km.
With its AESA radar and precision-guided weaponry, the J-10CE offers a far superior tactical edge.
The J-10CE recently gained global attention after reportedly downing an Indian Air Force Dassault Rafale during the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025 using a PL-15 missile.
Adding to the intrigue, Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal M. Tonny Harjono had the opportunity to test the J-10CE cockpit firsthand during the Zhuhai Airshow 2024 in China.
Strengthening Indonesia’s Air Fleet
Regardless of the variant, the J-10 acquisition adds to the Indonesian Air Force’s expanding procurement list in recent years.
By the end of 2025, Indonesia is set to receive its first A400M transport aircraft, followed by the initial batch of 42 Rafale fighter jets from France in early 2026.
Other ongoing or pending aircraft acquisition programs include:
24 F-15EX from the United States (MoU signed August 2023)
11 Su-35 from Russia (pending since 2018)
48 KF-21 Boramae developed jointly with South Korea
48 KAAN jets from Türkiye
With the addition of the J-10s, Indonesia’s defense modernization drive continues to expand, reflecting the country’s ambition to establish an air power capability on par with leading nations in the region. (AT Network)
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