Indonesian Aero News

[Ananda]

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/indonesia-doubles-orders-chinese-j10c

The talk of J-10 is continue increasing. After Allan Warnes tweet in his X, Military Watch also talking on Indonesia Defense Minister doubling the order.

The talk on this related to Indonesia stay back from Su-35 also increasing. Personally I'm still incline to believe it will not be CE version but B upgrade to CE version (call it BCE). My reasoning:

• B is right now in storage situation (at least that's what the rumours in Chinese media), and China actively offer them to export. Thus it is readily available.
• AL-31 is big factor, it is reported it will be operate from 2 Sulawesi AB where the infrastructure to support AL-31 already set up in Makasar for existing Flankers.
• B and C basically sharing similarn airframe, thus it is very doable to upgrade B current sensors to C/CE standard.

If the question why the need of J-10, is again related why the need of Flankers. All related to 'political' idea to diversifies defense assets toward different geopolitical spectrum (well that the official stands, unoffcially I already 'speculate' at post #3,669).

 

[koxinga]

Maybe the J-10 deal can help to satisfy the non-Western part of the geopolitical equation.

Geopolitically speaking, Russia is less and less powerful and relevant on the economic front and even military front, they are falling behind. Politically, there is also way too much baggage to get too involved with Russia now. If we are forward looking to 2030s/2040s, China is ascendant, while Russia will continue to descent. It also open the door for the Chinese 5th gen like J-35 in the future.

 

[Ananda]

Maybe the J-10 deal can help to satisfy the non-Western part of the geopolitical equation.

Definetely it will create some satisfaction in some part of local political factions that China & Russia defense brokerage coming from. Also It will give China some assurance that Indonesia defense build up is not aim entirely to them.

Politically, there is also way too much baggage to get too involved with Russia now.

Except for Prabowo 's camp getting involve with Russia is aim more for Energy Security, wherther Hydrocarbon or Nuclear ones.