[By Guancha Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] After the J-10C shot down a French-made "Rafale" fighter jet in South Asia, it instantly became a star product in the arms trade market and even attracted attention from buyers of the "Rafale".
According to a report by Bloomberg on June 5th, Indonesia, which previously purchased the "Rafale", is considering buying the battle-tested J-10 fighters. On April 4th, Deputy Minister of Defense Donny Hermawan Tavanto publicly stated that the government is studying whether this aircraft, widely used by the Chinese Air Force, meets operational requirements and can be integrated into Indonesia's existing system.
He said that during visits by Indonesian Air Force officials to China, they received a proposal for this aircraft, but Indonesia is still in the preliminary evaluation stage and has not yet sent a team for technical assessment or further follow-up on the proposal.
"This is just a proposal," Tavanto said.
Tavanto also said that Indonesia's procurement approach reflects a pragmatic and non-aligned defense strategy, allowing the country to flexibly advance military transactions with numerous partners.
When talking about the J-10, he said: "If this aircraft proves superior in performance, meets our standards, and is reasonably priced, then why not buy it?"
"We are not bound by any alliances and can purchase weapons from any country, including China," he added.
Reuters reported Tavanto's remarks on the same day. He revealed that China proposed a package deal including the J-10, surface warships, weapon systems, and frigates. "We are conducting an assessment," he said, adding that Indonesia will focus on examining system compatibility, after-sales support systems, and pricing factors.
According to Tavanto, Indonesia has been considering a fighter jet procurement plan for more than a year, which predates the recent conflict between India and Pakistan. Indonesia will consider the incident where the Pakistani military claimed to have shot down Indian aircraft as part of the decision-making process.
Regarding the purchase of the "Rafale", he said: "We are evaluating the French proposal while taking into account budget allocation, especially since we currently have alternative options such as the J-10 and F-15."
Pakistani Air Force J-10CE fighter - Social Media
Reports indicated that Indonesia's consideration of the J-10 comes amid a global increase in military spending, driven by factors such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The examination of the J-10 also highlights Indonesia's efforts under President Prabowo to modernize its military. Prabowo, who previously served in the military, promised to upgrade naval and air force capabilities while maintaining Indonesia's diplomatic neutrality and diversifying its weapons supply sources.
Indonesia participated in the development project of South Korea's KF-21 fighter jets and expressed interest in joining Turkey's fifth-generation fighter "KAAN" (KAAN) development plan in April this year.
An article published by Belgian defense news website "armyrecognition" on June 5th analyzed that due to slow progress in negotiations with the United States for purchasing F-15EX fighters, Indonesia is seeking rapid solutions to supplement its aging fleet, including China's J-10. Delivery speed, cost advantages, and Sino-Indonesian bilateral relations will all impact the procurement case.
The article pointed out that given Indonesia's deepening relationship with China, it is likely to choose the J-10. Last month's Indo-Pakistani air combat drew international attention, with Pakistan's Air Force claiming that its J-10C fighters used PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles to shoot down multiple Indian aircraft. If Indonesia confirms the purchase of the J-10, it would become the only country to deploy both the "Rafale" and the J-10. Currently, the Indonesian Air Force has ordered 24 "Rafales"; if combined with the J-10, Indonesia will have more than 60 delta-wing fighters in total.
On the other hand, Indonesia's diversified strategy may enhance strategic flexibility but also bring high costs and coordination challenges. Integrating Chinese, French, and possibly Russian fighters will create significant operational and budgetary complexities, involving maintaining independent training systems, maintenance infrastructure, spare parts inventory, weapon systems, and logistics support.
The J-10 was developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation of Aviation Industry Corporation of China and is a single-engine multi-purpose fighter. In the air combat on May 7th between Pakistan and India, the Pakistani military announced that the J-10 used PL-15E air-to-air missiles to shoot down five Indian aircraft, including the "Rafale".
Although the Indian authorities have not yet confirmed the loss of the "Rafale", the manufacturer, Dassault, has not directly responded, but the widespread circulation of pictures of the "Rafale" wreckage and the powerful evidence released by the Pakistani military officials have led to widespread confirmation of these results outside.
On May 31st, Chief of Defense Staff of India, Anil Chauhan, when interviewed at the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, "first confirmed" that India had indeed lost fighter jets in the recent conflict with Pakistan.
He said: "The important thing is not whether the aircraft were shot down, but why they were shot down."
Indonesia has previously purchased ammunition and air surveillance systems from China but has never purchased fighters. Foreign media believe that China is Indonesia's largest trading partner and the main source of foreign investment. If Indonesia can reach another major military purchase agreement with China, it will signify a significant deepening of their relationship.
Hong Kong-based English-language media "South China Morning Post" previously noted that the Indo-Pakistani conflict sparked doubts among Indonesians regarding the government's purchase of 42 "Rafale" fighter jets for $81 billion. Indonesian social media users believed that the "Rafale" had shortcomings in cost-effectiveness, combat capability, and strategic value, while Chinese-made fighters were considered cheaper and more reliable, urging the government to consider purchasing Chinese equipment.
A user on the X platform commented: "As an Indonesian, I regret purchasing this aircraft after learning that it might have been shot down by much cheaper J-10 fighters. I hope the president will also purchase some J-10 fighters and other Chinese military equipment."
"Indonesia eventually bought the 'Rafale'? Those Chinese-made fighters seem cheaper and more reliable," another X platform user commented.
Some foreign media analysts mentioned that the export price of the "Rafale" ranges between $200 million and $250 million. For example, in 2016, India spent $8.8 billion on 36 "Rafale" fighters, with each unit exceeding $240 million; Indonesia's purchase price is also close to $200 million. By comparison, the procurement price of the J-10CE does not exceed $60 million. Although specific contracts involve various accessories, weapons, and after-sales maintenance, there is indeed a significant difference in price between the Rafale and the J-10CE.
Renaldo, an expert at Italy's Verona Security Institute, said that although Chinese weapons have long been considered "cheap but low quality," this battle has changed that perception.
"The lesson we learned from this conflict is: Chinese weapons are no worse than Western equipment. We should abandon this long-standing prejudice," he said.
This article is an exclusive contribution by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7512442812476441097/
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