Indonesia decided to break with history and firmly chose China to J-10. France was tortured by India, and we have to thank Pakistan Railway.
In the past two days, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance have released two reports in a row.
In the first news, Indonesian Defense Minister Shavri confirmed that they were purchasing Chinese-made J-10 fighters and said that "J-10 will soon fly over Jakarta."
In the second news, the Indonesian Finance Minister announced almost at the same time that the defense budget for 2025-2026 has been approved for at least $9 billion, emphasizing that they can cover this expenditure.
This decision directly broke the history of Indonesia.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Indonesian Air Force's advanced fighter jets have always been purchased from Western countries such as the United States, Russia and Europe.
For the F-16 in the 1980s and later the Su-30, they also signed a US $8.1 billion "Rafale" order with France in 2022.
But this time, Indonesia suddenly turned to China. This is the first time that they have bought the main fighter from a non-Western country. The doorway behind this is more than just "changing the seller".
First of all, let’s talk about how many holes Indonesia stepped when it relied on Western equipment in the past.
The F-16, which they bought in the early years, is now more than 30 years old, and the radar even ultrasound detection is hard, fundamentally offside the current demand for air warfare.
Later bought the Russian manufactured Su-30MK, the performance is enough, but it is completely incompatible with the U.S. equipment system, each time joint training with the U.S. military, they have to adjust the data chain separately, and half the day is not necessarily smooth.
The worst thing is the "Rafale" order in 2022. It looked very good at the time, with 42 fighter jets worth US $8.1 billion. However, when I turned around, I found that Dassault had placed more than 230 orders, and Indonesia's "Rafale" had to be scheduled. Delivery will not be available until the end of 2026.
That's not to mention. Western equipment always likes to be tied to political conditions. A few years ago, the United States stopped supplying F-16 parts due to so-called "human rights issues" and directly left half of Indonesia's F-16s lying down for half a year. Even the air defense patrol in the Strait of Malacca was almost broken.
In September this year, the reorganization of the Indonesian army was launched, and President Prabhupada set up five Air Force Rapid Response Squadrons, as well as three new airspace commandos, with the goal of woven up the air defense network of 1,7 thousand islands.
So now for Indonesia, there is an urgent need for an air force that can be "immediately used and properly used."
The old F-16 in their hands can't keep up with, Su-30 compatibility is poor, "the wind" is still in line, this time the J-10CE comes out, or just stuck in Indonesia's "urgent need"?
Of course, the J-10 can grab the order of "Rafale" not only because of its performance, but also because of its real account.
The unit price of the "Rafale" is almost 200 million US dollars, and the J-10CE is only 40 to 60 million US dollars. Almost three J-10CEs are worth one "Rafale".
If you buy 42 aircraft, the total price of the J-10CE will only be US$3.3 billion, and you can save money to make matching equipment out of the 9 billion budget.
Moreover, follow-up maintenance is more worry-free. China provides a "pay-by-hour" engine maintenance model, which can save 30% compared to "Gusty Wind" over the course of a year.
In view of Indonesia's tropical marine climate, the airframe has been specially treated with anti-corrosion, and the attendance rate can be stabilized by more than 85%. On the other hand, the average attendance rate of "Gust" in Southeast Asia is only 70%, and it has to be shut down for maintenance from time to time.
And Indonesia wants not just a “good aircraft”, but a whole set of air defense systems that can be used immediately.
China can send the J-10CE and ZDK-03 early warning aircraft, Red Flag-9P air defense system package to the door, the data chain is directly connected, and you don't need to buy aircraft like "The Wind", you have to pay extra money to fit other equipment.
France is only willing to sell a single aircraft, and the subsequent support system has to be calculated differently, which is obviously not worthwhile for Indonesians who want to form a combat force as soon as possible.
Moreover, the trouble of "gust of wind" is not just as simple as "expensive".
The air war between India and Pakistan on May 7 was the key to completely destroying the reputation of "Gust".
That day, the J-10CE of the Pakistan Air Force shot down three Indian Rafale and one Su-30 in one go. CCTV also showed footage of the wreckage of the downed Rafale.
Interestingly, the number 001, or the first "wind" received by India in 2020, resulted in the "crash of aircraft 001". at the beginning, France also wanted to throw the pot, saying "it is India's improper operation", but soon was struck, the "wind" of India could not access the Russian-made early warning aircraft system, in the air war became "the bird without eyes" - is this not Indonesia's most concerned "system incompatibility" issue?
After this air battle, countries such as Saudi Arabia and Serbia, which originally wanted to book the "Gust", all suspended negotiations.
For Indonesia, the "Rafale" ordered by itself "overturned" in actual combat before it was delivered. If it continued to wait hard, it was just waiting to step on the pit. Turning to the J-10CE at this time is more like "stopping losses in time".
What made Indonesia dare to make up its mind was also Pakistan's "actual combat endorsement."
Pakistan was the first country to buy the J-10CE. During the "Eagle IX" exercise in March, Pakistan Railway defeated the European Typhoon fighter jets 3:0; in the air battle in May, it achieved a loss ratio of 6:0.
Indonesia's Deputy Defense Minister later said that "the performance of the J-10 in the India-Pakistan conflict is an important consideration." This is very practical. Equipment that has been proven in actual combat is always more reliable than "talking on paper".
Looking back at the whole matter, it is actually quite thought-provoking.
Indonesia broke the tradition of decades, not on impulse, but forced out by the "unreliability" of Western equipment.
France lost the order, the reason is that India with the "wind" real-time car rolled the sign.
China can pick up the order, relying on the cost-effective and systematic advantages of the J-10CE.
But the real battle performance of Bartholomew just eaten Indonesia a "confidence bullet".
Today's arms purchases have long been not the era of "watching signs", for countries like Indonesia, "useful, inexpensive, able to quickly integrate into the system" is the hard standard.
The J-10 can fly into Jakarta, not only sold a few aircraft, but also proved that it does not rely on the Western system, so that it can make top-purpose advanced weapons, which is the most worth considering place for this military purchase.