Jakarta Targets China’s Chengdu J-10C After Pakistan’s Air Dominance Over India’s Rafales ??

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a move poised to significantly recalibrate the airpower dynamics of Southeast Asia, Indonesia is reportedly preparing to acquire 42 second-hand Chengdu J-10C multirole fighters from China, while also signalling renewed interest in the long-suspended procurement of Russian Su-35s.

Jakarta’s apparent pivot toward the Chinese-made J-10C comes in the wake of the fighter’s recent combat validation during the high-stakes aerial clashes between Pakistan and India, where it allegedly outperformed its Western counterparts.

Although Indonesian defence authorities have yet to issue an official confirmation, prominent defence intelligence platform Alert 5 has reported that an announcement is likely during the upcoming Indo Defence and Expo 2025, scheduled for June 11–14 in Jakarta.

Should the deal materialize, it would mark Indonesia’s first-ever frontline acquisition of Chinese combat aircraft and reflect a broader strategic diversification aimed at balancing ties with Western, Russian, and Chinese defence industries.

Parallel to its growing interest in the J-10C, Indonesia is also reportedly reconsidering the stalled Su-35 “Flanker-E” acquisition from Russia, which was frozen amid geopolitical concerns and pressure from Western defence partners.

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, reaffirmed the continued validity of the contract, stating, “The contract (Su-35 with Indonesia) has never been cancelled. It is still active. We will resume negotiations someday,” in an interview with the Jakarta Globe.

Indonesia had originally signed a US$1.14 billion (RM4.9 billion) agreement in February 2018 to procure 11 Su-35 fighters, an aircraft seen as a high-end counterpart to Western 4.5-generation platforms like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Rafale.

However, in March 2020, international media outlets reported that Jakarta had shelved the deal under mounting diplomatic pressure and potential sanctions, notably under the U.S. CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) framework.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Western-aligned fighter procurement continues with the scheduled delivery of the first six Dassault Rafale fighters in February 2026, forming part of a 42-aircraft deal worth RM32 billion.

Yet concerns have emerged within Indonesia’s defence establishment following unverified but widely circulated claims that Pakistani J-10C fighters successfully shot down up to six Indian Air Force jets—reportedly including three Rafales—using PL-15 beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles during a flare-up in Kashmir.

These claims, though disputed by New Delhi, have reignited debate within regional air forces about the real-world effectiveness of legacy Western platforms when confronted by China’s rapidly evolving air combat systems.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar publicly stated that five Indian aircraft, including three French-built Rafales, were downed by PL-15E BVR missiles fired from Pakistani Air Force J-10Cs during the encounter, with a sixth Mirage 2000 also reportedly destroyed.

“The contract (Su-35 with Indonesia) has never been cancelled. It is still active. We will resume negotiations someday,” said Russian Ambassador Sergei Tolchenov, underlining Moscow’s continued interest in supplying advanced fighters to Jakarta.

Whether exaggerated or not, these combat claims have turbocharged the global reputation of the J-10C and the PL-15 missile, while simultaneously triggering a sharp drop in confidence surrounding the Rafale’s survivability in contested airspace.

At LIMA 2025 in Langkawi, the J-10CE export variant emerged as a centrepiece of China’s pavilion, drawing intense interest from foreign delegations and analysts alike due to its fresh battlefield relevance.

“The J-10CE, the export version of the J-10C, became the centrepiece of China’s booth at LIMA 2025 following its proven combat effectiveness, attracting immense interest from international visitors and military analysts alike,” reported Global Times.

CATIC, China’s state defence export agency, is now aggressively marketing the J-10CE as a cost-effective, high-performance alternative to Western and Russian platforms, particularly to countries such as Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia seeking modernisation with fewer geopolitical strings attached.

Chinese defence analysts argue that the J-10 series—backed by PLAAF combat experience and rapid technological maturation—has shattered outdated perceptions of China as a secondary aerospace power.

Since its induction in 2006, the J-10 platform has become a cornerstone of PLAAF’s tactical fighter fleet, with over 220 J-10C aircraft currently in service across multiple air divisions.

The latest variant, the J-10C, showcases China’s leap into full-spectrum 4.5-generation combat capability, incorporating AESA radar, a sophisticated digital fly-by-wire system, and indigenous WS-10B engines.

Technologically, the J-10C bridges affordability and lethality by integrating China’s most advanced long-range BVR missiles, notably the PL-15, which boasts an estimated range exceeding 200 kilometers and is widely seen as a direct rival to the AIM-120D and Meteor.

The fighter’s cockpit features a full glass digital display suite, helmet-mounted sighting systems, and a unified mission computer designed for rapid adaptation in contested environments.

Its aerodynamic configuration—highlighted by a delta-canard layout—provides high agility, enabling sharp angles of attack and multi-role versatility across air superiority, strike, and interdiction missions.

The aircraft also incorporates advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems including radar warning receivers (RWR), electronic countermeasures (ECM), chaff/flare dispensers, and infrared search and track (IRST) capability.

Armed with 11 hardpoints, the J-10C can carry a wide array of PL-series air-to-air missiles, anti-ship and precision-strike munitions such as the KD-88 and YJ-91, as well as satellite-guided glide bombs and laser-guided weapons.

The introduction of the J-10C into Indonesia’s future force mix would represent a strategic shift from reliance on Western platforms and provide Jakarta with a high-performance counterweight amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific.

China’s continued success in exporting the J-10CE to Pakistan and possibly Indonesia underscores Beijing’s ambition to carve out a greater share of the global fighter jet market, challenging the hegemony of U.S., European, and Russian manufacturers.

As Southeast Asian nations recalibrate their defence postures to navigate an increasingly volatile strategic environment, Indonesia’s potential acquisition of the J-10C signals a pivotal inflection point in the evolving regional balance of airpower.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA