Will there be a chance for J-10 to be exported to Indonesia?
As we all know, it was reported not long ago that Indonesia had been rumored to give up the purchase of French "Rafale" fighters and showed great interest in the J-10. Although French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Indonesia indirectly stabilized the order with Indonesia when he signed a defense cooperation intention letter with Indonesian President Prabowo, this intention letter is not a formal military procurement contract, so the transaction between both sides still has uncertainties.
This uncertainty has now appeared.
According to Reuters and Bloomberg reports, on the 4th, Deputy Defense Minister Tofanto told a meeting that Indonesia had received a proposal from China to export the J-10, and both sides held talks and discussions. Currently, the Indonesian government is assessing this proposal.
Of course, Tofanto also mentioned the "Rafale" deal between Indonesia and France, stating that Indonesia is also considering the French offer and its own budget, especially since there are now other options like the J-10.
It is worth mentioning that when Tofanto mentioned the J-10, he emphasized one sentence: "If we find that the performance of this aircraft is good, meets the needs of the Indonesian Air Force, and the price is reasonable, then why not buy it? Indonesia is not bound by any alliances and can buy weapons from any country, including China."
Undoubtedly, Tofanto's statement has added much food for thought regarding the export of the J-10 to Indonesia, but as always: any transaction may change before a formal contract is signed between both parties.
Moreover, at this moment, if Indonesia suddenly says it can consider buying the J-10, it might just be to pressure France into lowering prices, since the unit price of the "Rafale" is enough to make Indonesia feel nervous.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834079841497100/
Disclaimer: The article only represents the author's personal views.