(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Indonesia is once again at the centre of regional defence discourse as the Ministry of Defence confirmed that it is actively evaluating a proposal to acquire 42 fourth-and-a-half-generation Chengdu J-10C multirole fighters from China.

The development, if realised, would represent one of the most significant shifts in Jakarta’s military procurement strategy since the end of the Suharto era, propelling the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) into the heart of a rapidly intensifying technological and strategic competition between East and West.

The Chengdu J-10C, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has emerged as Beijing’s premier export-oriented combat aircraft in recent years.

Brigadier General Frega Wenas Inkiriwang, Head of the Defence Information Bureau at Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence, stated that the acquisition remains under review by the TNI-AU.

“At the moment, the J-10 is indeed being studied by the Indonesian Air Force because we want a weapons platform that is truly the best and capable of supporting the implementation of current policy,” he emphasised in Jakarta.

He stressed that every platform under consideration must represent the best option available to guarantee Indonesia’s long-term sovereignty and national security.

Frega also underscored that Indonesia’s current strategic orientation is not a sudden deviation but rather a continuation of policies formulated under former Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto.

That trajectory is now being carried forward by his successor, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who has sought to deepen the structural modernisation of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) while aligning procurement with the broader framework of “Perisai Trisula Nusantara.”

The continuity demonstrates Jakarta’s determination to pursue long-term force development goals, even as defence politics in the country shift with each administration.

READ: From Mocked to Feared: How China’s J-10C Outgunned Rafales and Su-30s in Combat

Perisai Trisula Nusantara and Its Airpower Component

The “Perisai Trisula Nusantara” — literally the “Nusantara Trident Shield” — has been envisioned as a comprehensive strategy to defend Indonesia against both internal and external threats.

Under the doctrine, the TNI’s three service branches — Air Force (TNI-AU), Army (TNI-AD), and Navy (TNI-AL) — are expected to operate synergistically, each acting as one prong of the national trident.

“Jadi, apa jua platformnya pastinya adalah yang terbaik dan untuk menjamin kedaulatan wilayah serta keselamatan bangsa Indonesia dapat terpelihara dengan utuh,” Frega reiterated.

For the TNI-AU, three pillars underpin this approach: the modernisation of combat equipment, the establishment of an organisational structure that is both efficient and effective, and the cultivation of human resources capable of mastering future science and technology.

The Air Force thus sits at the core of the doctrine, with modern fighters forming a decisive tool to maintain air dominance in a region increasingly crowded with advanced platforms.

Pakistan-India J-10C Combat Record

The credibility of the J-10C has grown considerably following its operational debut in Pakistan, where it has been inducted into frontline service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Armed with the PL-15 beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile — a ramjet-powered system with a reported range exceeding 200 kilometres — the J-10C has been touted as capable of tipping the balance in contested airspaces.

Reports emerging from the recent Pakistan-India confrontation have added to this perception, with Pakistani sources claiming that J-10C squadrons successfully downed multiple Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, including three Rafales, a Su-30MKI, a MiG-29, and a Mirage 2000.

While New Delhi has strongly denied such losses, the mere allegation has placed the J-10C firmly in the spotlight of international defence analysts.

For Indonesia, these reports underline the fighter’s potential as a relatively cost-effective yet technologically sophisticated deterrent, especially when compared to expensive Western counterparts.

China’s Strategic Push Through the J-10CE

China has aggressively marketed the J-10CE, the export variant of the J-10C, as a credible alternative to Western and Russian fighters.

At the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2025, the J-10CE was the centrepiece of China’s pavilion, attracting regional delegations and defence analysts eager to inspect the aircraft in light of its purported battlefield record.

Global Times described the fighter as the “star attraction” of the exhibition, with foreign visitors scrutinising its systems, particularly its AESA radar and integration of PL-15 missiles.

Through its state-owned China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), Beijing has used the J-10CE as a spearhead to expand its arms market footprint, challenging both Western firms such as Dassault and Lockheed Martin and Russia’s Sukhoi bureau.

The success of this effort would not only reshape regional airpower balances but also redefine China’s role as a global arms supplier.

Regional Airpower Balance: Rafale, F-16V, Su-35, and KF-21

Indonesia’s evaluation of the J-10C must be seen within the broader context of Southeast Asia’s rapidly evolving fighter landscape.

Jakarta has already committed to purchasing 42 Dassault Rafale fighters, with deliveries expected to start next year.

At the same time, discussions over the long-delayed acquisition of Russian Su-35 fighters remain unresolved, leaving open the possibility of a dual-supplier model for Indonesia’s future fighter fleet.

Neighbouring countries are also in the midst of ambitious modernisation programmes.

Malaysia is inducting the Turkish-built ANKA-S UAV while considering future fifth-generation options, Thailand has bought Saab Gripen E/F fighters while the Philippines has shortlisted both the F-16V and Gripen for its multi-role fighter programme.

Against this backdrop, Jakarta’s possible embrace of the J-10C would add a new dynamic, signalling Indonesia’s willingness to diversify beyond traditional suppliers and further complicating the regional balance of power.

Technical & Combat Analysis of J-10C

The J-10C represents the most advanced iteration of China’s indigenous fighter family, incorporating a delta-canard configuration optimised for manoeuvrability and agility.

Its integration of an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar allows it to detect and track multiple targets simultaneously while resisting electronic jamming, a crucial capability in high-intensity conflict.

The platform’s avionics suite includes a glass cockpit, helmet-mounted display (HMD), and digital fly-by-wire controls, bringing it closer in sophistication to Western fourth-plus-generation fighters.

Powered by the WS-10B Taihang turbofan, the J-10C achieves speeds up to Mach 2.0, with a service ceiling of 18,000 metres and a combat radius of 1,100–1,500 kilometres depending on mission load.

Its 11 hardpoints can accommodate a wide spectrum of weaponry, from PL-10 short-range air-to-air missiles to KD-88 precision strike munitions and YJ-91 anti-ship missiles.

This flexibility allows the fighter to perform in roles ranging from air superiority to ground attack, maritime strike, and electronic warfare support.

The addition of the PL-15 missile, in particular, has been described by Western analysts as a “game-changer,” potentially outranging current Western BVR systems such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM.

Geo-Strategic Implications in the Indo-Pacific

For Indonesia, adopting the J-10C would carry implications far beyond technical performance.

It would symbolise Jakarta’s openness to Chinese defence technology at a time when Southeast Asia is increasingly polarised between competing spheres of influence.

While Indonesia continues to pursue Rafale acquisitions from France, the simultaneous evaluation of the J-10C underscores its pragmatic approach of balancing multiple suppliers.

This hedging strategy reflects Indonesia’s long-standing foreign policy doctrine of being “free and active,” ensuring it is not locked into dependency on any single power bloc.

Regionally, the induction of J-10Cs would mark a significant step towards parity with neighbours fielding advanced fighters.

It would also enhance Indonesia’s role within ASEAN as a pivotal security player, capable of projecting credible deterrence in the South China Sea and along the Malacca Strait, both of which are vital maritime arteries in global trade.

Moreover, by integrating J-10Cs alongside Rafales and potentially Su-35s, the TNI-AU would achieve a uniquely diversified fleet, raising both opportunities for interoperability challenges and resilience against supply disruptions.

READ: Iran’s J-10C Gamble: China’s “Vigorous Dragon” Fighter Could Redraw Middle East Airpower Balance

Future Trajectories for TNI-AU Modernisation

Deputy Defence Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto has already acknowledged that the J-10C meets many of Indonesia’s evaluation criteria.

“Based on our assessment, this aircraft is indeed good and meets the criteria that have been set — and given that its price is reasonable, why should it not be considered?” he told the Antara news agency.

Donny added that Indonesia’s defence policy allows room to explore partnerships with multiple countries, and that cost, integration potential, and combat performance would all weigh heavily in the decision.

As of 2025, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fields over 220 J-10Cs, confirming its role as a backbone of China’s combat aviation.

For Jakarta, the question is not whether the J-10C is a capable platform — it clearly is — but whether its adoption aligns with Indonesia’s strategic requirement for an independent, balanced, and technologically advanced force.

Ultimately, the evaluation process represents more than a procurement decision.

It is a litmus test for Indonesia’s broader strategic trajectory in an Indo-Pacific security environment defined by intensifying rivalry between the United States, China, and their respective allies.

Indonesia’s consideration of the J-10C thus extends well beyond the technical merits of a single fighter aircraft.

It reflects Jakarta’s determination to craft a diversified and resilient defence posture under the Perisai Trisula Nusantara framework, while simultaneously navigating the turbulent waters of great-power competition.

Whether the J-10C joins the TNI-AU remains uncertain, but its evaluation alone speaks volumes about Indonesia’s role as a pivotal balancer in Southeast Asia’s evolving security architecture.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA