Indonesia set to buy Chinese J-10 fighter jets amid push to modernise military: minister
Move would make Indonesia second foreign military to operate the jets after Pakistan, which said it shot down Indian jets in May with J-10C
Such a deal would also mark the first purchase of Chinese-made warplanes by Indonesia as it seeks to modernise its military.
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said on Wednesday that Indonesia would soon buy the J-10 fighter jets as part of its plans for military modernisation, according to the country’s national news wire Antara.
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“They will be flying over Jakarta soon,” Sjamsoeddin said, although he did not provide any details regarding the purchase timeline or the expected delivery date of the aircraft.
The finance minister of Indonesia, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, also confirmed on Wednesday that his ministry had approved nearly US$9 billion for the purchase of the Chinese aircraft, but added that he needed to “double check” their time of delivery.
“So, everything should be ready,” Sadewa was quoted as saying by Associated Press. “But I have to double check when those aircraft will arrive in Jakarta from Beijing.”
Jakarta will buy “at least 42” of the jets, according to AP.
Indonesia’s plan to buy the J-10s was revealed last month by its defence ministry, with a spokesman saying that Jakarta wanted the “best military weapons”.