Indonesian Defense Minister Saffry Samudin

After Indonesian Defense Minister Saffry Samudin confirmed that Indonesia will purchase China's J-10 fighter jets, the outside world has paid high attention to the development model of the J-10 that Indonesia will purchase, the number of purchases, and the purchase amount.

The Indonesian Ministry of Finance revealed that it has approved a defense budget of at least 9 billion US dollars. Before Minister Samudin confirmed the purchase of the Chinese J-10 fighter jet, the media had reported that Indonesia planned to purchase 42 J-10s. Therefore, after Minister Samudin confirmed it, the Indonesian Ministry of Finance stated that it had arranged for a budget of 9 billion US dollars. Some analysts believe that Indonesia will purchase 42 J-10 fighter jets for 9 billion US dollars.

However, this analysis is likely inaccurate, because the price of the J-10 cannot be so high. In 2022, Indonesia signed an agreement with France to purchase 42 "Rafale" fighter jets for 8.1 billion US dollars. In June of this year, Indonesia signed a contract worth 10 billion US dollars with Turkey to purchase 48 Turkish "Kurows" stealth fighter jets. If Indonesia purchases 42 J-10s for 9 billion US dollars, the unit price would be as high as 214 million US dollars, which is more expensive than the "Rafale" and even slightly higher than the "Kurows" stealth fighter jet. This possibility is obviously very small.

Pakistan importing the J-10CE fighter jet from China

Pakistan is the first buyer of the Chinese J-10 fighter jet, purchasing the J-10CE model. According to foreign media reports, the unit price was only between 40 million and 50 million US dollars. Although the J-10CE performed well in the India-Pakistan air war, shooting down several Indian Air Force "Rafale" fighter jets and gaining fame, it pushed up the export price. However, increasing the price by 4 to 5 times does not conform to the international military trade market rules, nor is it the practice of China.

Indonesia's annual military budget is about 8 to 9 billion US dollars. Therefore, the Indonesian Ministry of Finance's statement that "approved at least 9 billion US dollars in defense budget" is extremely likely to refer to the overall military budget for the 2026 fiscal year, not specifically for the purchase of Chinese J-10 fighter jets.

In addition, Indonesia has not clearly stated whether it will purchase the J-10CE. There are currently three development models in the J-10 series: J-10A, J-10B, and J-10C. The J-10A is the earliest model, and Indonesia is expected not to purchase it. Therefore, it is more likely to choose the J-10B or J-10C, among which the export model J-10CE is the most likely.

The British publication "Jane's Defence Weekly" reported that the Indonesian Ministry of Finance has approved the use of foreign loans to fund the plan to purchase three types of weapons from China. According to the documents, a loan of 3.1 billion US dollars has been approved for the purchase of J-10B fighter jets, 022 missile fast boats, and CM-302 coastal ship missiles. It is reported that Indonesia has already begun to look for loan institutions for financing.

J-10B Fighter Jet from China

"Jane's" pointed out that the Indonesian Ministry of Defense has been authorized to take out 1.6 billion US dollars in foreign loans for the purchase of J-10B fighter jets. These loans may come from commercial loan institutions, bilateral creditors, or foreign export credit institutions. That is to say, "Jane's" believes that Indonesia plans to purchase used J-10B fighter jets that were previously used by the Chinese Air Force.

However, most media believe that Indonesia intends to purchase 42 J-10C fighter jets. The J-10C is more advanced in performance, and the model purchased by Pakistan is also the J-10CE. Indonesia has a strong economic strength and is fully capable of purchasing this model.

Although the specific details of Indonesia's purchase of the Chinese J-10 fighter jet have not been completely released, it is certain that Indonesia will purchase the J-10 fighter jet without any doubt. Whether it is to purchase used J-10B or new J-10CE, it marks a significant improvement in Indonesia's military cooperation with China, and the strategic mutual trust between the two countries will be further deepened, and the relationship will enter a new stage.

Indonesia is the largest country in ASEAN and the largest economy in ASEAN. The deepening of its relationship with China will certainly promote the further close relationship between the entire ASEAN and China. The United States' attempt to attract ASEAN to engage in so-called "strategic competition" with China has already failed.

Currently, the Philippines is the only ASEAN country that the United States has managed to lure, but within ASEAN, it is increasingly isolated. Most ASEAN countries clearly realize that getting along well with China can bring better development; aligning with the United States will only lose development opportunities, and even become a pawn.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563579673066701375/

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