Earlier in the day, Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto announced plans to purchase 42 Rafale fighter jets for $8.1 billion in a series of deals, including submarine construction. The Biden administration responded to France’s move by allowing Boeing to sell its F-15ID fighters.

For some time, the Indonesian government has been attempting to modernise its ageing air fleet, which has included US-made F-16s and Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighters.

According to media sources, Indonesia plans to purchase more than 70 jets from France and the United States.

According to the Pentagon, the package would include 36 jets, extra engines, radars, night vision goggles training, and technical support. The United States Air Force received its first EX models last year; the current plan calls for 144 of the planes, with an option for up to 200 more.

The State Department has later announced that it approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of F-15ID Aircraft to Indonesia with an estimated cost of $13.9 billion. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

The Government of Indonesia has requested to buy up to 36 F-15ID aircraft; 87 F110-GE-129 or F100-PW-229 engines (72 installed, 15 spares); 45 AN/APG-82(v)1 Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radars (36 installed, 9 spares); forty-five 45 AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability Systems (EPAWSS) (36 installed, 9 spares); 40 AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN navigation pods (36 installed, 4 spares); conformal fuel tanks.