Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto had previously indicated that Indonesia was interested in buying both Rafales and the F-15EX, as part of a major defense spending increase planned for the coming decades.
The US State Department has cleared Indonesia to buy up to 36 Boeing F-15EX aircraft as part of an estimated $13.9 billion deal, just hours after Indonesia announced another major investment in the French-made Dassault Rafale.
“We agreed on the purchase of 42 Rafale. The contract signed today is for the first six, which will be followed by 36 others,” Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto said today, according to France 24.
Prabowo had previously indicated that Indonesia was interested in buying both Rafales and the F-15EX, as part of a major defense spending increase planned for the coming decades. By approving the sale, the US State Department may be leaving the door open for Indonesia to split its buy between the Rafale and an Indonesian variant F-15EX, which would be known as the F-15ID.