Jakarta – Indonesia has signed two separate Letters of Intent (LoIs) during the recently concluded Singapore Airshow to acquire Italian-made M-346 Master trainer jets and Russian-made Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighters.
The first LoI was signed between Leonardo "with PT E-System Solutions Indonesia and the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of the Republic of Indonesia aimed at cooperating for the supply and support of the Leonardo M-346 F Block 20 aircraft to meet Indonesian Air Force operational requirements," the Italian defense said in a press release issued on Wednesday.
"The LOI follows the selection of the M-346 by the MoD to respond to Indonesia's training and combat capability needs. The program will provide a major contribution to the MoD pursuing an aircraft fleet modernization plan leveraging on the M-346 advanced technology and performance to replace aging types such as the Hawk, among others."
PT ESS Indonesia is the subsidiary of E-System Solution FZ, based in the United Arab Emirates.
While all parties did not reveal the number of jet trainers to be acquired, social media postings revealed that the LoI was for 24 jet trainers with an option of 12 more.
The LoI also included the localization of a range of support, maintenance, overhaul, training capabilities as well as human capital development, Leonardo said.
The parties will now move into the next stage of discussions, intended to achieve a procurement contract signing soon.
Indonesia currently operates British-made BAe System Hawk 109/209 and Korean-made Korean Aerospace T-50 in roles similar to those of the M-346.
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 (AESA) radar, a Link 16 data-link, electronic countermeasures and new weapons systems, Leonardo said.
Leonardo's platform simultaneously offers a complete, integrated advanced flight training system – including a Ground Based Training System (GBTS), 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, also including aerial refueling capability.
While Indonesian Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal Muhammad Tonny Harjono visited Leonardo's facility in Milan, Italy on July 11 to observe the production process of AW189 heavy helicopter and M346 F Block 20, there has been no public discussion to procure the jet trainer.
A contract for six AW189, on the other hand, was signed at the 2024 Indo Defense in Jakarta on June 11, 2025.
PT ESS also signed an LoI to acquire MiG-29 UB/C, supposedly for an aggressor squadron. Also known as adversary squadron, an aggressor squadron is trained to act as an opposing force or the enemy in a military wargame.
"ESS part of the modernization training system of the Indonesia Air Force will also provide a much-needed Aggressor Squadron in the form of a mix of modernized Mig-29C/UB associated with Unmanned Aggressor High Subsonic Aerial Target, using Manned/Unmanned Combat Training scenarios," the company said in a posting on its official LinkedIn account on Thursday.
"This will be the first fully dedicated Aggressor Squadron in Indonesia using advanced technologies and software system to teach advanced complex tactical engagement."
An aggressor squadron is also trained to mimic the tactics and silhouettes used by potential adversaries in real life.
Mikoyan constantly upgrades its MiG-29 and are currently producing newer variants, such as the navalized MiG-29K, multirole MiG-29M and the most advanced MiG-35.
Because Russia is currently under United States sanctions through the Countering America's Adversary Through Sanction Act (CAATSA), which punishes countries who buy Russian-made weapons systems.
Indonesia signed a US$1.14 billion contract to buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker jet fighters on Feb. 14, 2018. The contract, however, has never been activated because of wariness of US sanctions through CAATSA. (nvn)