JAKARTA: Indonesia is to receive 12 Italian-made M-346 F Block 20 multirole light fighter aircraft in 2030 under a contract signed on July 21 between Leonardo and local brokerage PT E-System Solutions (ESS) Indonesia in Farnborough, England, the Italian aerospace and defence giant has announced.
Earlier in February, ESS Indonesia, a subsidiary of E-System Solutions FZ based in the United Arab Emirates, signed a letter of intent (LoI) on the procurement of Leonardo M-346 F aircraft with the Defence Ministry at the Singapore Airshow.
“The introduction of the M-346 F in Indonesia provides clear evidence not only of the aircraft system's inherent quality but also of the country’s continued and yet growing trust in our capabilities across domains,” Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani said in a press statement released on Tuesday.
“We’re here to stay and further expand our contribution and engagement, in both established and new sectors, to deliver the level of technology the country requires in its long-term aerospace and defence development road map.”
The programme would provide a major contribution to the Defence Ministry’s plan to modernise the Air Force fleet through the M-346 F’s multirole combat capabilities, enabling advanced training for Indonesian pilots, the Italian company said.
“The new M-346 F Block 20 light fighter configuration standard will be equipped with cockpits featuring a large area display (LAD), active electronically scanned radar, a Link 16 data link, electronic countermeasures and new weapons systems,” it said.
“It offers a complete, integrated advanced flight training system, including a GBTS (Ground Based Training System) – combined simulated elements and scenarios with real flights according to a live, virtual and constructive (LVC) logic – with additional light combat capabilities for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, enabled by advanced mission systems, equipment and sensors, including aerial refuelling capability.”
While the statement did not reveal the contract value, Leonardo’s Mariani said the deal was valued at close to 1 billion euros (US$1.14 billion), according to aviation and aerospace platform FlightGlobal.
According to Leonardo, the contract includes “the localisation of a range of support, maintenance, overhaul and training capabilities as well as human capital development”.
However, ESS Indonesia is not known to possess such capabilities or a proven track record managing such a programme.
Defence Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Rico Sirait did not respond to an inquiry from The Jakarta Post on Wednesday about the necessity of using a broker.
The Defence Ministry has signed previous major defence procurements directly with foreign arms manufacturers, such as with French aircraft maker Dassault for Rafale fighter jets and with French shipbuilder Naval Group for Scorpene Evolved submarines.
The ministry has also signed contracts directly with European aerospace giant Airbus for A400M Atlas heavy transport aircraft and H145M light helicopters.
These contracts have enabled a variety of technology transfers and offset programmes, both directly and indirectly, as required by Law No. 16/2012 on the defence industry.
Aside from the usual training and maintenance, ESS has not carried out any technology transfers or offset programmes, and it is unclear how the broker can do so, given that it lacks existing in-country facilities.
The ministerial spokesman also did not respond to a query on the necessity of procuring M-346 F jets when the Indonesian Air Force already operates BAE Systems Hawk 109/209 aircraft from Britain and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 aircraft from South Korea in a similar capacity.
Although the Hawks are nearing the end of their life cycle and operational age, the T-50s are relatively new.
Both the M-346 F and Hawk are subsonic jet trainers, while the T-50 is supersonic and has rather more basic capabilities when compared with the M-346 F.
However, KAI has the FA-50 Block 20 variant, which has capabilities more comparable to those of the M-346 F.
In addition, the Italian jet trainer is equipped with two Honeywell/ITEC F124-GA-200 turbofan engines with a top speed of 1,090 kilometres per hour, or Mach 0.95, whereas the British and Korean jets are both powered by single engines.
Contacted separately, Andrea Abdul Rahman Azzqy, an international relations lecturer at Budi Luhur University, explained that while the M-346 F and T-50 were both advanced jet trainers, the former was classified as a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) aircraft with more complex combat capabilities.
“So, there is a functional differentiation. The T-50 is for basic advanced training and the M-346 F is for combat readiness training,” he told the Post on Wednesday.
“The T-50 is also used for high-speed flying, while the M-346 is used [in training] on how to survive in modern warfare,” Andrea added.
Aside from the ESS contract on providing M-346 F aircraft, Leonardo also released a separate statement on July 21 about signing an LoI on supplying AW149 helicopters to the Indonesian Navy, which includes plans to develop local technical assistance, maintenance, completion and training capabilities.
“If followed by a contract, this could lead to the supply of AW149 helicopters for search and rescue and disaster relief for both land-based and embarked operations,” Leonardo said.
“The AW149 is a latest-generation multirole medium-weight military helicopter designed to meet the most demanding needs of armed forces and is in service internationally to perform a wide range of missions,” such as tactical transport, utility, close support, medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, SAR and combat SAR.
In February, ESS Indonesia signed a separate LoI with the Defence Ministry to acquire Russian-made Mikoyan MiG-29 UB/C Fulcrum fighter jets, reportedly for an aggressor squadron, also known as an adversary squadron.
An aggressor squadron is trained to act as an opposing or enemy force in war games.
The latest MiG-29 variants include the navalised MiG-29K and the multirole MiG-29M, while the aircraft family’s most advanced member is the MiG-35.
Given the United States’ Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which punishes countries that trade significantly with Iran, North Korea and Russia, it is not clear how ESS Indonesia will procure the MiG-29 other than secondhand aircraft from current or former users.- Jakarta Post/ANN
