Indonesia is set to make a bold leap in its military modernization efforts, confirming plans to acquire at least 42 Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C fighter jets in what marks the country’s first major non-Western aircraft purchase. The deal, announced by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on October 15, 2025, signals a significant shift in Jakarta’s defense procurement strategy and has already set analysts and regional observers abuzz over its potential geopolitical reverberations.
“They will be flying over Jakarta soon,” Sjamsoeddin told reporters during a briefing in the capital, making a hand gesture that resembled a plane in flight, as reported by local media and Newsweek. While he declined to specify the exact timeline for delivery, the message was clear: Indonesia’s skies are about to see a new kind of fighter jet, one that doesn’t hail from the country’s traditional Western suppliers.
The purchase is part of a sweeping military modernization program initiated under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. Since his appointment as defense minister in 2019, Subianto has traversed the globe—from Beijing to Paris, Moscow to Washington—seeking to bolster Indonesia’s air, land, and sea defenses. The aim: to ensure that Southeast Asia’s largest economy is equipped for the evolving security challenges of the 21st century.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that the government has approved a budget exceeding $9 billion for the acquisition of the J-10C jets from China. “So, everything should be ready,” Sadewa told reporters, adding, “But I have to double check when those aircrafts will arrive in Jakarta from Beijing.” The deal, one of Indonesia’s most expensive defense procurements in recent years, underscores just how seriously Jakarta is taking its quest for military renewal.
For decades, Indonesia’s air force has operated a patchwork fleet of fighter jets from the United States, Russia, and Britain. Many of these aircraft are aging, with some in urgent need of upgrades or outright replacement. The move to purchase the Chinese J-10C, a fourth-generation, supersonic, multirole fighter, represents a break with tradition—and a calculated risk.
Jakarta’s interest in the J-10C was first disclosed last month by defense ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Frega Wenas. Local media reported that the Indonesian Air Force had been rigorously evaluating the Chinese-made jets to ensure they would genuinely strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities. The J-10C, already operated by China and Pakistan, has gained a reputation for its cost-effectiveness, advanced radar systems, and air-to-air missile capabilities. According to Zhang Junshe, a researcher at the People’s Liberation Army Naval Military Academic Research Institute, the J-10’s reputation had “improved significantly” following Pakistan’s recent conflict with India, where Pakistan claims its J-10Cs shot down Indian jets—a claim India denies, as reported by Newsweek.
Indonesia’s purchase would make it only the third country in the world, after China and Pakistan, to operate the J-10. Other nations, such as Iran, have reportedly expressed interest in the aircraft, though no deals have been finalized. China, now the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter, has been eager to market its fourth-generation fighters to friendly countries as it introduces even more advanced aircraft, like the fifth-generation J-20, into its own air force.
But Indonesia’s embrace of Chinese military hardware is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. In January 2024, Jakarta finalized an order for 42 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets in a deal valued at $8 billion, with the first deliveries expected in early 2026. Earlier this year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey would export 48 of its homegrown KAAN fighter jets to Indonesia, to be manufactured in Turkey. The country has also inked deals to purchase two French Scorpene Evolved submarines and 13 Thales ground control interception radars, further diversifying its defense portfolio.
This flurry of acquisitions reflects Indonesia’s desire to avoid overreliance on any single supplier and to remain, as much as possible, politically non-aligned. Yet, as defense analyst Beni Sukadis of the Indonesia Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies cautioned, such a high-profile purchase from Beijing “could be read as a shift in Indonesia’s security orientation amid China’s growing military and diplomatic influence in the Southeast Asia region.” Sukadis warned, “The move could spark regional sensitivities over the South China Sea where China has direct interests.”
Indeed, Indonesia’s decision comes at a time of heightened tension in the Asia-Pacific. China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea has unsettled several Southeast Asian neighbors, and Jakarta’s own waters have not been immune to incursions. The optics of a major Chinese arms deal, therefore, are not lost on regional watchers. While Indonesia maintains that its foreign policy is guided by pragmatic non-alignment, the J-10C purchase is likely to be scrutinized by both Western and regional partners for signs of shifting allegiances.
There’s also the question of operational integration. Indonesia’s air force currently juggles aircraft from a variety of manufacturers, each with its own training, maintenance, and logistical demands. Adding the J-10C to the mix could present challenges, but also opportunities for learning and adaptation. According to Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Jiang Bin, “We are willing to share the achievements of China’s equipment development with friendly countries and contribute constructively to regional and global peace and stability.”
The J-10C itself is no slouch. Equipped with advanced avionics, a modern radar suite, and a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry, the jet has been battle-tested and is considered a cost-effective alternative to many Western fighters. Its export to Indonesia is a feather in the cap for China’s arms industry, which has sought for years to break into new markets beyond its traditional partners.
For Indonesia, the coming years will reveal whether this gamble pays off. The first J-10Cs are expected to arrive in Jakarta soon—though, as Finance Minister Sadewa noted, the exact date remains to be confirmed. In the meantime, President Subianto’s administration will continue its quest to modernize Indonesia’s military, balancing relationships with suppliers from East and West while navigating the choppy waters of regional geopolitics.
As the roar of new engines prepares to echo over Jakarta, one thing is certain: Indonesia’s defense landscape is changing, and the world is watching closely.