TSAMTO, December 23. Chief of Staff (Commander) The Indonesian Air Force, Air Marshal Fajar Prasetyo, confirmed plans to purchase Rafale fighters from the French company Dassault or F-15EX from the American Boeing.
As reported by KOMPAS.com with reference to the statement of F.Prasetyo, the Indonesian government abandoned the plan to buy Su-35 fighters. "As for the Su-35, it is with a heavy heart that we are forced to abandon this plan," F. said.Prasetyo on December 22 at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base (Jakarta).
According to him, one of the factors that forced the government to make a choice in favor of the Rafale or F-15EX was the budget (approx.TSAMTO: apparently, this means financial support of the transaction by the French or American government). The commander recalled that in recent years, Rafale has been in great demand in the market (the last contract was signed with the UAE for the supply of 80 French fighters).
Earlier it was reported about Indonesia's plans to acquire 35 Rafale fighters and 8 F-15EX. The issue of the planned purchase of new aircraft has caused a lot of controversy in the country's political circles since last year.
In general, Indonesia plans to purchase two or three fighter squadrons, depending on the budget.Prasetyo noted that if Indonesia chooses the F-15EX, deliveries could begin as early as 2027.
Recall that negotiations between Indonesia and Russia regarding the Su-35 were frozen due to the American offer to Jakarta to purchase F-35 fighter jets, as well as concerns about the US embargo in accordance with the CAATSA law (the Law "On Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions").
