Indonesia looks towards F-15EX

On 21st August 2023, the Republic of Indonesia and the Boeing company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with regards to future sale of twenty-four F-15EX aircraft.

The MoU was concluded at one of Boeing´s facilities in St. Louis, by Air Vice Marshal Yusuf Jauhari, Head of Defense Facilities Agency, Indonesian Ministry of Defense, and Mark Sears, Boeing Fighters vice president and programme manager, following a tour of the F-15EX production line. The act of signature was witnessed by the Indonesian Minister of Defence Prabowo Subianto, and was part of his official visit to the United States.

´We are pleased to announce our commitment to procure the critical F-15EX fighter capability for Indonesia´, said Minister Subianto, emphasizing that ´This state-of-the-art fighter will protect and secure our nation with its advanced capabilities´.

Nevertheless, the Indonesian sale contract is still subject to United States government approval.

The first example of F-15EX fighter after arrival to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida on 11th March 2021 (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Karissa Rodriguez)

The F-15EX is the most advanced version of the F-15 ever built, with digital fly-by-wire flight controls, a new electronic warfare system, an all-glass digital cockpit, and the latest mission systems and software capabilities, which will all be leveraged in delivering the new F-15 for Indonesia. More detailed information about the aircraft can be found in one of our previous articles, issued in March of 2021.

Currently, the F-15 Eagle jets are operated by seven countries around the world.

It is also worth to mention that two days after signing the MoU with Boeing, Indonesia concluded a deal to purchase twenty-four Sikorsky S-70M Blackhawk helicopters. The agreement was concluded by state-owned company Dirgantara Indonesia and Lockheed Martin.

Earlier this month, Indonesian authorities disclosed that the country bought twelve UAVs from Turkey for approximately 300 million USD. The value of the latest deals with Lockheed Martin and Boeing was not made public so far.

Cover photo: A Republic of Indonesia delegation, led by Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto (center), shared the country’s commitment to procuring F-15EX during a recent visit to Boeing’s St. Louis facility. Indonesia has chosen F-15EX to advance their capabilities for the future (photo © Boeing). Information from the Boeing Company press releases were used.