Boeing Cancels F-15 Fighter Jet Deal with Indonesia | Defense News

Indonesia Halts Boeing F-15EX Fighter Jet Deal

Boeing’s agreement with Indonesia to supply F-15EX fighter jets has been terminated, ending a potential landmark expansion of the Indonesian military’s capabilities. The deal, initially signed in August 2023, involved the planned purchase of 24 F-15EX aircraft but was contingent upon approval from the U.S. Government.

The announcement came during the Singapore Airshow, where Bernd Peters, Boeing’s Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, confirmed the partnership with Indonesia is no longer active. Peters refrained from providing specific details regarding the decision, directing further inquiries to the relevant governmental authorities in both the United States and Indonesia.

The potential acquisition of the F-15EX, touted by Boeing as the most advanced version of the F-15 ever built, represented a shift in Indonesia’s defense strategy. In December 2021, Indonesia had abandoned plans to purchase Russian Su-35 fighter jets, opting instead to consider options from the U.S. And France. The decision to pursue the F-15EX was seen as a move to modernize Indonesia’s air force, which currently operates refurbished Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and Russian Sukhoi Su-27/30 Flankers.

The F-15EX, according to Boeing, features digital fly-by-wire flight controls, a new electronic warfare system, an all-glass digital cockpit, and the latest mission systems and software. Indonesia had initially expressed interest in acquiring two to three squadrons’ worth of the aircraft, dependent on budgetary considerations.

The memorandum of understanding for the F-15EX purchase was signed on August 21, 2023, by Air Vice Marshal Yusuf Jauhari, representing Indonesia’s Defense Ministry, and Mark Sears, Boeing’s vice president and program manager for fighters, at Boeing’s facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto was present during the signing.

The planned F-15s were to be designated as F-15IDN jets. Had the deal proceeded, deliveries of the multirole fighter could have begun as early as 2027, according to statements made in 2021 regarding the potential acquisition of a 4.5-generation fighter.

Alongside the F-15EX agreement, Indonesia also committed to acquiring 24 Sikorsky-made Black Hawk helicopters in August 2023, with PT Dirgantara Indonesia, the state-owned aerospace company, undertaking sustainment and component manufacturing for the helicopters. The S-70M Black Hawk helicopters are equipped with forward-firing guns, a rocket pod, and laser-guided missiles.

The termination of the F-15EX deal raises questions about the future direction of Indonesia’s military modernization efforts. The implications of this decision on Indonesia’s defense strategy remain unclear, and further details are expected from the involved governmental bodies.

In December 2025, the U.S. Government allocated $8.6 billion to Boeing for the sale of 25 F-15 fighter jets to Israel, demonstrating continued U.S. Commitment to the F-15 platform. This contract highlights the ongoing demand for the F-15 despite Indonesia’s decision to halt its purchase.