Indonesia Increases Defence Purchases Aligning with Prabowo's Goal for Military Modernization
Let's Talk Turkey and Indonesia's Fighter Jet Deal
Last week, Turkey and Indonesia put pen to paper in a game-changing deal for Turkey's home-grown Kaan fighter aircraft. The deal, officialized during the INDO Defence 2025 exhibition, makes Indonesia the proud first owner of these fifth- generation stealth warplanes, announcement made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on June 11.
Valued at around $10 billion, this mega-deal includes producing and delivering 48 advanced fighters over a decade, as reported by the Turkish Anadolu Agency.
First unveiled in 2023, the Kaan boasts stealth capabilities combined with superior performance in both air-to-air and air-to- ground missions. The jet conducted its maiden test flight last year.
A month prior to this, France and Indonesia inked a defense agreement for new orders of French military equipment such as Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines, French President Emmanuel Macron disclosed during his Jakarta visit on May 28.
The Breakdown:
- Co-production: Indonesia's industrial capacities will play a substantial role in manufacturing these aircraft.
- Technology Transfer: Extensive knowledge-sharing and capacity building in Indonesia's aerospace and defense industry are part of the agreement.
- Powering Up: Early models will use General Electric F110 engines, but the domestically developed Turkish TF-35000 turbofan engine will power all 48 jets, aimed to be in action by 2032.
- Long-term Partnership: This deal symbolizes strategic growth for Turkey's developing domestic defense industry and strengthening defense cooperation between the two nations.
Overall, this deal certainly marks a turning point in strategic and defense relations between Turkey and Indonesia, transcending mere aircraft sales to embrace technology sharing and joint production opportunities.
- The strategic growth for Turkey's defense industry, as demonstrated by the Kaan fighter jet deal, is expected to extend beyond financial gains, involving co-production and technology transfer to Indonesia's aerospace and defense sector.
- The long-term partnership between Turkey and Indonesia, strengthened by the Kaan fighter jet deal, could potentially influence the political landscape and general news discussions, as both nations venture into joint production opportunities and knowledge-sharing in the defense sector.
