Jakarta— Indonesia signed a contract for 12 unit of M-346F fighter trainer jets from Italy's Leonardo on 21 July 2026, witnessed by President Prabowo Subianto as the purchase deal sealed at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta where Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono attended.
The deal is part of Indonesia's long-term plan to modernize its Air Force. The jets will replace the country's aging Hawk fleet, and their first deliveries are set for 2030.
The contract follows earlier purchases this decade, including 42 Rafale fighter jets from France and two Scorpene submarines.
Indonesia was the largest arms importer in Southeast Asia between 2021 and 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
The signing came during a month of heightened military activity across the region which China and Russia held a joint naval exercise called Joint Sea-2026 from July 6 to 13 near Qingdao. The drill was followed by a joint maritime patrol in the Pacific.
Besides that, the United States and Bangladesh ran a separate joint exercise called Tiger Lightning from July 19 to 31 in Sylhet. Another military drill is held by the United States, Japan and the Philippines at South China Sea as part of maritime cooperative activities between 21 and 25 July 2026.
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Meanwhile, Indonesian and Russian Naval Forces held joint military exercise ORRUDA 2026 from 24 to 26 July 2026.
Edna Caroline, co-founder of the Indonesia Strategic and Defence Studies (ISDS), said the timing of Indonesia's jet purchase is not connected to these drills.
"There's no connection to temporary external factors like training. The plan to buy Pespur has been around for a long time," she said, noting the acquisition plan had been in the works for years.
