Indonesia is set to buy 24 modernised F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets at a cost of $80-106 million despite buying Rafale and having F-16, Su-27, Su-30s

Indonesia is buying Rafale fighter jets, but does not plan to limit itself to the aircraft of the French company Dassault Aviation. The country from the Malay Archipelago wants to get two squadrons of American F-15EX Eagle II.

Here's What We Know

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto visited the US, where he announced the country's plans to buy 24 upgraded F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets. The official visited Boeing's production line in Missouri and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the US manufacturer.

The potential deal must be approved by the State Department and the US Congress. The amount of the possible contract has not yet been specified. The cost of one modernised aircraft for the US Air Force would be more than $80m but less than $106m, Boeing chief operating officer Steve Parker said a few months ago.

The US originally planned to buy 144 fighter jets, but the order was later cut almost in half, to 80 units. Nevertheless, as time went on, the Pentagon changed plans. At the moment, the US Department of Defence intends to order 112 F-15EX Eagle II aircraft. The US Air Force has only received two of the 4.5+ (or 5.0-) generation fighters, with the third to be delivered later this year.

As for Indonesia, Dassault Aviation officially announced an order for 18 fighters a fortnight ago. In the spring, it was reported that the cost would be $2.6bn. In total, the Indonesian Air Force will have 42 Rafale aircraft. In addition, it already has the F-16 Figthing Falcon, Su-27 and Su-30 in service.

Source: Boeing