Jakarta (ANTARA) – Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has hinted that Indonesia could receive more fighter jets in the future.
He made the statement after attending a handover ceremony for a Hercules C-130H aircraft following maintenance by PT Garuda Maintenance Facility Aero Asia Tbk (GMF) at the company’s hangar at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday.
“In the future, we will receive a larger number of transport aircraft and fighter jets,” Sjafrie said.
However, the minister did not disclose the number of new defense equipment items expected to arrive or their delivery timeline.
He said various new fighter jets would undergo engine maintenance and servicing by Indonesia’s domestic defense industry.
According to him, the move is aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on foreign defense equipment manufacturers.
“We are not just buying the equipment, but we are buying the system. This is what we will implement in Indonesia,” he emphasized.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted the proven capability of domestic companies to maintain defense equipment, citing PT GMF’s successful maintenance of the heavy-duty Hercules C-130H aircraft as an example.
He said the achievement reflected the growing capabilities of Indonesia’s domestic aviation industry, noting that maintenance of the Hercules C-130H had previously been carried out by Lockheed Martin.
Sjafrie expressed hope that the continued growth of the domestic defense industry would eventually enable local companies to handle the maintenance of all newly acquired Indonesian Air Force fighter jets.
The Indonesian Air Force is reportedly set to receive a number of fighter aircraft, including the Rafale fighter jet manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation.
So far, the Air Force has received six Rafale fighter jets out of a total of 42 aircraft covered by purchase contracts signed by the Ministry of Defense.
The remaining Rafale aircraft are scheduled to arrive in stages over the next few years.
Furthermore, the Air Force is also expected to receive other types of fighter jets, including the KF-21 Boramae from South Korea.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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