Indonesian Air Force

[Indos]

Can't you already deny access to malacca, sunda and karimata strait because they pass within Indonesia island group and hence it naturally becomes Indonesia internal water passage where Indonesia can deny the entry to any nation?

Under conflict we can, but why we want to deny access to Malacca straits and other straits under peacefull time ? Stupid question. We get huge benefit for the trading, industry, and economy due to our location.

The access is part of the UNCLOS and only can do it under permission and with specifict line route. We can kidnap Vessels in Malacca strait who want to dock in Singapore port and also abducted Iranian vessel due to them doing something we dont permit.

 

[Raiden]

Can't you already deny access to malacca, sunda and karimata strait because they pass within Indonesia island group and hence it naturally becomes Indonesia internal water passage where Indonesia can deny the entry to any nation?

Can we? In war?

I don't have any faith in the Air Force to fight a long war and impose our will on those chokepoints. Not if we fight the way our enemy fights. Which is expensive and not within our means.

Whatever Indonesia has in its inventory, the Singaporeans and Australians will have the better one. So if we're going to fight on a symmetrical basis, we'll lose.

You forgot, 16 of these deadly beauties.

This is why adding the 24 Su-35SIs for a 50-count of heavy fighters would've been the best way to go IMO, considering logistical commonality, quality of aircraft and what you alluded to, size of patrol range of the largest island country in the world.

But believe me, if anyone understands CAATSA, it's this kid. And who could underestimate US ally-ship as compared to Russia's? The former is somewhat better than the latter.

The Sukhois aren't to be there for long, past 2030 there will be serious questions on the use of these birds. They are technologically outdated even now, very hard to maintain and fly and we simply don't know how are we going to arm those planes.

We could not purchase its missile via Russia or Belarus because of CAATSA and our previous contract to supply hundreds of R-27 missiles from Ukraine (Artem) failed because the country is at war and now on the prospect of being erased by Russia. Their end of life is just around the corner.

Btw

I used to think that Indonesia's best course of action was to model our military (in particular the Air Force) in the image of modern American and European force structure. But it's very expensive, we're not only talking about procurement (and maintenance) of expensive fighter jets, but satellites, AWACS, SIGINT, aerial tankers, aerial jammers etc, Many of these must be imported and will be a liability if our relationship with the source (likely the West) soured. not to mention the skills must be updated by increase in flight hours, joining multinational exercises like Pitch Black, Red Flags etc.

I prefer that money be invested in the necessary infrastructure to design, engineer and produce missiles, any type of missiles, ranging from cruise to ballistic, manpads, to medium-high altitude air defense.

 

[GoMig-21]

The Sukhois aren't to be there for long, past 2030 there will be serious questions on the use of these birds. They are technologically outdated even now, very hard to maintain and fly and we simply don't know how are we going to arm those planes.

We could not purchase its missile via Russia or Belarus because of CAATSA and our previous contract to supply hundreds of R-27 missiles from Ukraine (Artem) failed because the country is at war and now on the prospect of being erased by Russia. Their end of life is just around the corner.

We have the same problem with our MiG-29M/M2s & many, many, many other Russian systems, but I don't think the purchase of armaments for pre-existing Russian platforms is part of CAATSA rules & regulations to trigger sanctions. It's mostly for the purchases of future full weapons systems. On top of that, license-assembling of the needed weapons domestically is also another option which is one Egypt has moved to in order to circumvent the restrictions.

Overall, I think it still sucks, though.

Btw

I used to think that Indonesia's best course of action was to model our military (in particular the Air Force) in the image of modern American and European force structure. But it's very expensive, we're not only talking about procurement (and maintenance) of expensive fighter jets, but satellites, AWACS, SIGINT, aerial tankers, aerial jammers etc, Many of these must be imported and will be a liability if our relationship with the source (likely the West) soured. not to mention the skills must be updated by increase in flight hours, joining multinational exercises like Pitch Black, Red Flags etc.

I prefer that money be invested in the necessary infrastructure to design, engineer and produce missiles, any type of missiles, ranging from cruise to ballistic, manpads, to medium-high altitude air defense.

That seems to be the wise thing to do. All those platforms are essential assets to not only compliment the air force platforms, but to strengthen the entire military as a whole. Wise line of thinking.

 

[Raiden]

Indonesia to soon receive 24 US F-15EX Eagle II fighters jets.​

• 12 Jun, 2024 - 13:50
• Defense News Aerospace 2024

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According to Bisnis on June 10, 2024, Boeing is nearing the completion of 24 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets ordered by Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. During a media briefing, Zaid Alami, Boeing Indonesia's Country Managing Director, confirmed that the company is in the final stages of fulfilling the Indonesian government's order for these advanced aircraft, which was placed by Prabowo, who is also Indonesia's elected president.
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The F-15EX, derived from earlier models such as the F-15 Eagle along with the F-15E Strike Eagle and incorporating advancements from international versions like the F-15SA and F-15QA, was introduced to modernize the fleet and supplement the US Air Force's capabilities. (Picture source: US Air Force)

The production of these fighter jets, designated locally as F-15IDN (formerly F-15ID), is being carried out at Boeing’s facilities in St. Louis, Missouri. Alami did not disclose the financial details of the purchase. He mentioned Boeing's aim to expand its partnerships within the Indonesian aviation sector, including potential collaborations in training, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and advancements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
On August 21, 2023, Indonesia finalized an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of 24 F-15EX Eagle II aircraft, becoming the first export operator of this advanced fighter jet, designated as F-15IDN in Indonesian service. The deal, cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding signed during Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto's visit to the United States, followed a potential US Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of up to 36 F-15EXs to Indonesia, making the approval process largely procedural. This acquisition is part of Indonesia's broader effort to modernize and diversify its air force, complementing its existing fleet of Russian Su-27s, Su-30s, and Su-35s with upcoming deliveries of Rafale jets from France and potentially KF-21 fighters from South Korea to phase out older aircraft.
The F-15EX Eagle II, developed by Boeing, is an advanced variant of the F-15 series, originally designed by McDonnell Douglas. The F-15 series began with the F-15 Eagle, introduced in the 1970s as an air superiority fighter. The F-15E Strike Eagle, developed in the 1980s, added dual-role capabilities for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The F-15EX, derived from these earlier models and incorporating advancements from international versions like the F-15SA and F-15QA, was introduced to modernize the fleet and supplement the U.S. Air Force's capabilities. The first flight of the F-15EX took place in February 2021, with the first aircraft delivered to the USAF in March 2021.

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Powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, providing a combined thrust of 59,000 pounds, the F-15EX can reach speeds up to Mach 2.5 and operational altitudes of 60,000 feet. (Picture source: Boeing Defense)

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The F-15EX is equipped with advanced systems and weaponry, designed to enhance its operational effectiveness. It features the AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar, which provides improved situational awareness and target tracking. The AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) enhances the aircraft's defensive capabilities. The F-15EX also includes modern avionics, such as a digital cockpit with large area displays and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) for both the pilot and weapons systems officer. Powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, providing a combined thrust of 59,000 pounds, the F-15EX can reach speeds up to Mach 2.5 and operational altitudes of 60,000 feet. The aircraft has a combat radius exceeding 1,270 kilometers without refueling and a service life of up to 20,000 flight hours.
The F-15EX Eagle II is armed with a 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barreled Gatling cannon, capable of firing 500 rounds of either M-56 or PGU-28 ammunition. The aircraft features multiple hardpoints, including four wing pylons, fuselage pylons, and bomb racks on conformal fuel tanks (CFTs), providing a total of 23 hardpoints. These hardpoints allow for a capacity of 29,500 pounds (13,400 kg) of external fuel and ordnance. For air-to-air combat, the F-15EX can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, with 12 dedicated hardpoints for these missiles. The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is planned to be integrated in the future. For air-to-surface missions, it can be armed with AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM), and AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). Additionally, it can carry GBU-31 or GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs for precision strike capabilities.

Indonesia to soon receive 24 US F-15EX Eagle II fighters jets

Indonesia to soon receive 24 US F-15EX Eagle II fighters jets

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[GoMig-21]

This is what I've been reading all along, too. It seems more sources are stating that it's not only pretty much a done deal, but the production of the aircraft is either well underway or even at near completion where initial deliveries should begin soon. A bit contrary to what the brass is saying, which sounds like they're only being cautious not to announce things just yet for whatever legitimate reason they must have.

And when you look at these specs..........

The F-15EX is equipped with advanced systems and weaponry, designed to enhance its operational effectiveness. It features the AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar, which provides improved situational awareness and target tracking. The AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) enhances the aircraft's defensive capabilities. The F-15EX also includes modern avionics, such as a digital cockpit with large area displays and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) for both the pilot and weapons systems officer. Powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, providing a combined thrust of 59,000 pounds, the F-15EX can reach speeds up to Mach 2.5 and operational altitudes of 60,000 feet. The aircraft has a combat radius exceeding 1,270 kilometers without refueling and a service life of up to 20,000 flight hours.
The F-15EX Eagle II is armed with a 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barreled Gatling cannon, capable of firing 500 rounds of either M-56 or PGU-28 ammunition. The aircraft features multiple hardpoints, including four wing pylons, fuselage pylons, and bomb racks on conformal fuel tanks (CFTs), providing a total of 23 hardpoints. These hardpoints allow for a capacity of 29,500 pounds (13,400 kg) of external fuel and ordnance. For air-to-air combat, the F-15EX can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, with 12 dedicated hardpoints for these missiles. The AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) is planned to be integrated in the future. For air-to-surface missions, it can be armed with AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM), and AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW). Additionally, it can carry GBU-31 or GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs for precision strike capabilities.

....................lmfao! That is almost unbeatable.

And out of all those ridiculously insane capabilities, the one that strikes me the most is this one:

The aircraft has a combat radius exceeding 1,270 kilometers without refueling and a service life of up to 20,000 flight hours.

20,000 flight hours! Do you fellas realize how long that is and how much more it is compared to the standard 4+++ generation aircraft?

Fighter jets have shorter life cycles of 8,000 flight hours, of which they spend 200 every year on average. As a result, most fighter jets can function for between thirty and forty years. They can also fly between a maximum of 1.5 million miles to 2.5 million miles if they’re properly serviced.

8,000 hours is the average flight hours (basically the lifespan) or a fighter jet and the F-15EX (or F-15IDN) will have 2-1/2 times the flight hours & lifespan. That is a phenomenal quality to that particular aircraft.

I remember the first time that was brought to my attention by I believe it was @Faceless and if it wasn't him, it might've been another Indian member whom I was having a discussion about the top, currently available fighter jets on the market. He mentioned this made him lean towards the EX as a better choice for a procurement if it was available and it's so true. That is a durable airframe and most of all, a less maintenance-intensive platform to operate.

I believe the reason Boeing made it so sturdy is because at one point in time about a decade ago or so, the USAF's F-15s were grounded when either one of them crashed and they found out it suffered from metal fatigue after inspecting the wreckage or after the crash they found cracks in some of the other airframes, so they temporarily stopped all F-15 flights. This undoubtedly promoted the new engineering of the F-15EX.

 

[Raiden]

This is what I've been reading all along, too. It seems more sources are stating that it's not only pretty much a done deal, but the production of the aircraft is either well underway or even at near completion where initial deliveries should begin soon. A bit contrary to what the brass is saying, which sounds like they're only being cautious not to announce things just yet for whatever legitimate reason they must have.

And when you look at these specs..........



....................lmfao! That is almost unbeatable.

And out of all those ridiculously insane capabilities, the one that strikes me the most is this one:



20,000 flight hours! Do you fellas realize how long that is and how much more it is compared to the standard 4+++ generation aircraft?

Fighter jets have shorter life cycles of 8,000 flight hours, of which they spend 200 every year on average. As a result, most fighter jets can function for between thirty and forty years. They can also fly between a maximum of 1.5 million miles to 2.5 million miles if they’re properly serviced.

8,000 hours is the average flight hours (basically the lifespan) or a fighter jet and the F-15EX (or F-15IDN) will have 2-1/2 times the flight hours & lifespan. That is a phenomenal quality to that particular aircraft. I remember the first time that was brought to my attention by I believe it was @Faceless and if it wasn't him, it might've been another Indian member whom I was having a discussion about the top, available fighter jets on the market currently. He mentioned this made him lean towards that as a better choice for a procurement if it was available and it's so true. That is a durable airframe and most of all, a less maintenance-intensive platform to operate.

I believe the reason Boeing made it so sturdy is because at one point in time about a decade or so ago, the USAF's F-15s were grounded when either one of them crashed and they found out it suffered from metal fatigue after inspecting the wreckage. Later they found cracks in some of the other airframes so the temporarily stopped all F-15 flights. This undoubtedly promoted the new engineering of the F-15EX.

The F-15 has been mentioned by name by Prabowo himself. There's also some Prabowo related company involved in this procurement. It's pretty much a done deal.

At this point there's no point for denial. The Indonesian ministry of defense has picked the F-15EX for the air force and they will operate those. No matter how many are still in denial.

 

[Raiden]

The Indonesian air force after the purge of Soekarnoist has always been bent on American jets. Before the embargo, the InAF has already a plan to grow the F-16 fleet from 12 to 70+ jets.

So this is just a natural choice for the air force to upgrade it's heavy fighter with F-15s

 

[GoMig-21]

This will be the only air force that will operate both of the top best heavy fighters in the world, the Su-30MK2 and F-15EX! Even if the Sukhoi numbers are low, they're still so valuable and potent fighters and add them in formation with the 24 EX Eagles and yawzah.

Screw you both, @Indos & @Raiden and Indonesia altogether. The hell with youz.

I'm soooo friggin jealous.

 

[GoMig-21]

Momentous occasion. Indonesian Block 25 Vipers with P&W engines at Hill AFB prior to delivery. What a gorgeous paint scheme.

 

[Raiden]

What a gorgeous paint scheme.

Millennium camouflage.

It works here where combat background is mostly with water + blue sky with clouds or flush forest which appeared blue-ish from above.

 

[Indos]

 

[Indos]

 

[Indos]

 

[Indos]

 

[GoMig-21]

Great stuff, Indos.
BTW, this camo scheme on the Su-30MK2s is pretty rad.

It's not the common Russian Flanker pattern we see on all of Russia's Su-30/35s, even the ones that were coming to Egypt had the same Russian pattern, just slightly different shades of blue. But this, here is different altogether. This is the kinda thing I dig, originality and we see it also with the F-16s. No other country has that same pattern let alone colors.