Istif Frigate Export Debate: Crisis or Opportunity?
Turkish MoD says the Istif MoU is not binding, yet debate continues over fleet targets, timelines and whether replacement frigates will be clearly committed.
Indonesia News
Analysis
Navy / Maritime
Land
FNSS KAPLAN APC Reaches Final Production Stage for Indonesia
The first vehicle produced under the FNSS KAPLAN APC programme for Indonesia has reached the final stage of production, with assembly nearing completion.
Air
Expo and Air Show
Indonesia spreads fighter risk beyond US suppliers
Indonesia is reshaping its airpower roadmap by spreading procurement risk across France, ROK and other partners, reducing exposure to US political constraints.
Air
Indonesia Starts Receiving Rafale F4 Fighters from France
The Indonesian Air Force has started receiving its Rafale F4 multirole fighter jets from France, with the delivery of three aircraft out of 42 ordered.
Air
Engine and Transmission
Indonesia’s KAAN debate highlights export-control trade-offs
Indonesia’s KAAN debate reflects ITAR concerns, shaped by phased delivery timelines, engine dependency and Jakarta’s broader fighter diversification strategy.
Navy / Maritime
Indonesia to Build Two More Balaputradewa-class Frigates
After the launch of KRI Balaputradewa (322), Indonesia acquired licences for the construction of two more Balaputradewa-class (Formerly Merah Putih) frigates.
Navy / Maritime
Defence Politics
Expo and Air Show
TAIS and Barzan Sign MoU for Cooperation on Frigates
TAIS Shipyards and Qatari Barzan Holdings announced the signing of a MoU during the DIMDEX 2026 defence exhibition, covering cooperation on frigate projects.
Navy / Maritime
Weapon / Missile
PT PAL Launches the First Merah Putih-Class Frigate
PT PAL announced the launch of the first Merah Putih-class frigate, KRI Balaputradewa (322), with the MİDLAS VLS mockup visible from shared photos.
Navy / Maritime
Sensors
Indonesia Prepares Merah Putih Frigate for CENK 350-N Radar
Indonesia’s Merah Putih frigate, based on Arrowhead 140, was spotted at the shipyard with preparations for ASELSAN’s CENK 350-N AESA radars on the mast.
Air
Logistics
Indonesia receives first Airbus A400M transport aircraft
Airbus has delivered Indonesia’s first A400M to the Ministry of Defence, a key step in modernising the Air Force’s airlift capability across the archipelago.
Air
Indonesia confirms $9B deal for 42 Chinese J-10C fighter jets
Indonesia confirms plans to acquire 42 Chengdu J-10C jets from China under a $9 billion deal, marking the country’s first major non-Western aircraft purchase.
Air
Weapon / Missile
Indonesia Shows Interest in KGGB Winged Guidance Kit
Indonesian Air Force has shown interest in South Korean LIG Nex1’s KGGB winged GPS guidance kit for Mk-82 GPBs following the Thailand-Cambodia conflict.
Navy / Maritime
Investment
Indonesia Allocates Budget for Giuseppe Garibaldi Carrier
Indonesia has approved a budget of $450 million for the purchase of the ex-Italian Navy aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi and two other budgets for aircraft.
Navy / Maritime
Expo and Air Show
Turkiye as a Major Actor in Indonesia’s Naval Modernisation
Turkiye has recently elevated its role in the modernisation efforts of the Indonesian Navy by becoming a supplier of platforms, weaponry, and sensors.
Global Defence Trend Brief
- 15:00 US Army expands long-range precision fires production planning - The US Army is increasing investment in production capacity for long-range precision fires programme...
- 15:00 European air defence modernisation shifts toward integrated networks - European governments are increasingly linking national air defence assets into broader integrated ne...
- 15:00 China strengthens unmanned maritime surveillance capabilities - China continues expanding its portfolio of maritime surveillance drones to improve situational aware...
- 15:00 Japan accelerates hardened infrastructure development - Japan is investing in hardened facilities, protected storage sites and dispersed operating locations...
- 15:00 Autonomous underwater systems gain role in critical infrastructure security - Navies are increasingly deploying autonomous underwater vehicles to monitor and protect undersea cab...
- 15:00 Counter-drone systems increasingly combine kinetic and electronic effects - Military organisations are fielding layered counter-drone architectures that integrate electronic wa...
- 15:00 Hypersonic weapon proliferation drives demand for space-based tracking - Defence agencies are accelerating development of space-based sensor constellations capable of provid...
- 15:00 Military logistics automation becomes mainstream procurement priority - Armed forces are expanding procurement of autonomous logistics vehicles and AI-assisted supply syste...
- 15:00 Collaborative combat aircraft concepts reshape force structure planning - Air forces are increasingly designing future force structures around combinations of crewed aircraft...
- 15:00 Industrial resilience becomes strategic requirement for defence suppliers - Governments are placing growing emphasis on supply-chain security, surge production capability and m...
- 09:00 US Air Force expands Collaborative Combat Aircraft testing - The US Air Force is increasing flight testing and integration work for Collaborative Combat Aircraft...
- 09:00 European defence spending increasingly targets ammunition resilience - European governments are directing additional defence funding toward ammunition production, stockpil...
- 09:00 China advances military satellite constellation deployment - China continues expanding military satellite constellations designed to enhance communications, navi...
- 09:00 Japan strengthens distributed missile force posture - Japan is expanding deployment of mobile missile units and support infrastructure across remote islan...
- 09:00 Autonomous surface vessels gain importance in fleet operations - Navies are integrating autonomous surface vessels into surveillance, reconnaissance and maritime sec...
- 09:00 Counter-drone procurement shifts toward scalable architectures - Military organisations are increasingly procuring counter-drone systems built around open architectu...
- 09:00 Hypersonic defence programmes focus on persistent target custody - Defence agencies are prioritising sensor networks capable of maintaining continuous tracking of mano...
- 09:00 AI-assisted command systems gain momentum in military planning - Armed forces are accelerating adoption of AI-assisted command-and-control systems designed to improv...
- 09:00 Collaborative autonomy emerges as key defence technology trend - Military planners increasingly view teams of autonomous systems operating cooperatively as a major f...
- 09:00 Production capacity increasingly shapes defence export competitiveness - Countries evaluating defence acquisitions are placing greater weight on supplier production capacity...
