New Indonesian Weapon Buys: Europe, Turkey Preferred (at Oct 2026)

AI overview as at October 19, 2026 with some additional Wikipedia links and Pete's comments in square bolded [...] brackets.

"Indonesia is rapidly modernizing its military under President Prabowo Subianto through major multi-billion-dollar acquisitions spanning fighter jets, warships, submarines, and precision miissiles. [1, 2]

[Pete comment - Subianto's military career [early start in Kopassus and already a General in 1985, goes right back to the Suharto era (being Suharto's son-in-law). But Subianto, now a centrist President, has not turned into the right-wing, coup-inciting, dictator many feared would happen.

Indonesia continues its pattern of buying weapons from many countries: especially France, Turkey, Italy, Russo-Indian BrahMos, maybe from China - maybe to extract favourable offers from the US. The list below does not count the many other orders by Indonesia, arrived (eg. from Russia) or on their way from many other countries: eg. aircraft  ships  103 Leopard 2s already here.

Indonesia's weapons are mainly focussed on internal security and regional competitors. Unlike Australia (with help from the US) Indonesia has no pretensions to get in a medium level fight against China.].

Air Force & Aviation

• Dassault Rafale F4 Fighters (France): Indonesia ordered [high end 4.5 Generation] 42 Rafale jets; the first six units (four single-seats and two double-seats) were formally commissioned into Air Squadron 12 at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in May 2026, equipped with MBDA Meteor missiles and AASM Hammer guided bombs. [1, 2]
  
  

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) national combat aircraft KAAN [see TAI website - in English - takes a while to download]
---

• TAI KAAN Stealth Fighters (Turkey): Contracted for 48 fifth-generation KAAN fighter jets from Turkish Aerospace Industries with planned deliveries starting in 2032. [1, 2] [Pete comment - maybe 5th Gen but without the strike package (intelligence/sensor backup) provided to US and Israeli 5th Gen].
• J-10CE Fighters (China): [maybe 42 in future - a complex non-aligned gambit] Entered an agreement for Chinese J-10CE fighter jets to help fill immediate capacity gaps. [1, 2]
• Support & Transport Aircraft: Inducted an Airbus A400M transport aircraft and four Falcon 8X transport aircraft. [1, 2]

Navy & Maritime Defense

• KRI Sriwijaya Aircraft Carrier: Commissioned the former Italian aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi as the KRI Sriwijaya, arriving at Tanjung Priok Port, Indonesia in September 2026. [1, 2] [43 years old since launch in Italy. Only 14,000 tonnes full load. Maybe vanity flagship [but better than Thailand's] in "response" to Australia's much larger Canberra-class LHD. Just helicopter air wing, to date, like the Canberras] 
• BrahMos & Astra Missiles (India): Finalized a $630 million strategic defense pact with India to acquire BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles for Sukhoi-30 integration. [1, 2] [A very dangerous Russian-Indian developed missile, depending on its flight profile.]
• Italian PPA Warships & Frigates: Taken delivery of two Italian Offshore Patrol Vessels (PPA) and contracted for Turkish Istanbul-class [light] frigates as well as domestic [PT PAL built medium-large Red White-class frigates]. [1, 2]
• [AI reports as at June 2026 Japan and Indonesia have initiated working-level discussions regarding the potential transfer of retired Japanese Navy Asagiri-class up to 5,000 tonne full load destroyers to the Indonesian Navy.]
• Submarines: Building two Scorpene-class submarines locally with French technology transfer, alongside autonomous AI-driven unmanned submarines developed by state-owned PT PAL Indonesia. [1, 2] [may be commissioned by mid 2030s]. [see Shawn C's excellent SubMatt's article on this 2 x PT PAL Scorpene Evolved (EVO) 1,600-2,000 tonne build.]

Army & Ground Systems

• KHAN Ballistic Missiles (Turkey): Deployed the Turkish-built Roketsan KHAN/Bora short-range ballistic missile system, giving the Indonesian Army a 300-kilometer strike range. [1, 2] [It is a puzzle what international targets  Indonesia would want to hit with a 300km missile. Perhaps one answer is: Australia has a wide variety of ballistic and cruise missile with a range greater than 300km.]
• Anti-Drone & Air Defense: Received new domestic and foreign anti-drone mobile jammers ([domestically developed] Maung MV3 Mobile Jammer systems) and expanded ground-based air-defense radar systems. [1, 2]"