Indonesia Abandons F-15EX, Selects M-346F to Replace Hawk
•February 4, 2026
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Why It Matters
The move signals Indonesia’s strategic realignment toward more affordable, versatile aircraft while maintaining its push for a Western‑centric fleet in a contested Indo‑Pacific environment.
Key Takeaways
- •Indonesia cancels 24‑aircraft F‑15EX purchase
- •Leonardo signs LOI for M‑346F Block 20 acquisition
- •M‑346F offers advanced avionics, AESA radar, multirole capability
- •Indonesia pivots to Western platforms amid Indo‑Pacific competition
- •Rafale deliveries begin, offsetting lost F‑15EX program
Pulse Analysis
The cancellation of the F‑15EX deal underscores the financial and logistical challenges of acquiring heavy, fourth‑generation fighters for emerging air forces. Boeing’s advanced Eagle II, while technologically impressive, carries a price tag and support infrastructure that can strain defense budgets. Indonesia’s decision reflects a pragmatic assessment of capability versus cost, opting for a platform that delivers modern combat functions without the overhead of a full‑size fighter.
Leonardo’s M‑346F Block 20 presents a compelling alternative, blending trainer heritage with combat‑ready systems such as an AESA radar, augmented‑reality helmet and expanded hardpoints. This configuration enables the Indonesian Air Force to field a multirole aircraft capable of air‑policing, close‑air support, and precision strike, all while fostering local maintenance and training capabilities through the LOI’s localisation clauses. The aircraft’s payload capacity and digital cockpit align with the Air Force’s goal of bridging the gap between legacy Hawks and high‑end fighters like the Rafale.
Strategically, the shift reinforces Indonesia’s broader pivot toward Western platforms amid rising great‑power competition in the Indo‑Pacific. With Rafale deliveries already underway and future purchases such as the Turkish Kaan on the horizon, the M‑346F adds depth to a diversified fleet, reducing reliance on older Soviet‑era types. This balanced approach enhances interoperability with allies, supports rapid capability growth, and positions Indonesia as a more resilient player in regional security dynamics.
Indonesia Abandons F-15EX, Selects M-346F to Replace Hawk
Boeing confirmed that the deal for 24 F‑15EX will not proceed, with Indonesia meanwhile signing a Letter of Intent to replace the Hawk with the M‑346F Block 20
No More Indonesian F‑15EXs
On the first day of the Singapore Airshow (Feb. 3 2026), Boeing confirmed that Indonesia will not procure the F‑15EX Eagle II. “In terms of our partnership with Indonesia, it is no longer an active campaign for us,” said Bernd Peters, vice‑president of business development and strategy at Boeing Defense.
“We’re honored to host Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto on a tour of our F‑15 production line in St. Louis.
Indonesia is an important partner and we are humbled that they have chosen F‑15 to advance their capabilities for the future.” – Boeing Defense (Twitter, Aug 22 2023)
Indonesia and Boeing had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Aug. 21 2023 to finalize the sale of 24 F‑15EX Eagle II aircraft. A year earlier, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) had approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Indonesia for up to 36 F‑15EXs. Since 2023 there has been no progress on formalising the deal or signing a final acquisition contract. The aircraft would have been the first export variant of the Eagle II (designated F‑15IND) and would have joined the Rafale and KF‑21 in a modernised fleet.
Image: An F‑15EX Eagle II from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53rd Wing, taking off from Eglin AFB, Florida, 11 April 2024 (U.S. Air Force photo).
The proposed F‑15IND configuration included:
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AN/APG‑82(v)1 AESA radar
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AN/ALQ‑250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS)
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Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP) II digital computers
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Joint Helmet‑Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) for pilots and WSOs
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AN/AAQ‑13 LANTIRN navigation pods
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AN/AAQ‑33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP)
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MS‑110 Recce Pods and an AN/ASG‑34 infrared search‑track system (potentially integrated on the Sniper pylon)
M‑346F Letter of Intent
On Feb. 4 2026 (the second day of the Singapore Airshow), Leonardo announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with PT ESystem Solutions Indonesia and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence for the supply and support of the M‑346F Block 20. The M‑346F will replace the Hawk (currently operated in Mk. 209 light‑fighter and Mk. 109 trainer variants).
The Block 20 is the latest light‑fighter variant of the M‑346 trainer, first unveiled at the 2024 Farnborough International Air Show. Leonardo did not disclose the number of aircraft to be acquired, but the LOI includes localisation of support, maintenance, overhaul, training capabilities and human‑capital development.
Image: M‑346FA loaded with inert IRIS‑T and Derby air‑to‑air missiles (Leonardo).
Key features of the Block 20 standard cockpit:
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Two Large Area Displays (LAD), one per seat (replacing six Multi‑Functional Displays)
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Low‑profile Head‑Up Display (HUD)
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New digital video and data recorder
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Augmented‑reality Helmet‑Mounted Display (HMD)
Additional enhancements for the M‑346F variant:
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New navigation, weapon‑management and flight‑management systems
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Updated IFF transponder
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AESA radar with fire‑control capability
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Integration of new air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground weapons, plus a built‑in missile datalink
“At the @SGAirshow Leonardo announced the signing of a Letter of Intent with PT ESystem Solutions Indonesia and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia aimed at cooperating for the supply and support of the Leonardo #M346F…” – Leonardo Aeronautics (Twitter, Feb 4 2026)
Visible differences from the standard M‑346 include two wing‑tip missile rails (raising hardpoints to seven), new antennas and a Defensive Aid Sub‑System (DASS). The aircraft is proposed for a wide range of roles: homeland defence/air policing, slow‑mover intercept, close‑air support, counter‑insurgency, forward‑air‑controller‑airborne, combat search‑and‑rescue, interdiction, battlefield air interdiction, tactical air support for maritime operations, and tactical reconnaissance, with a payload capacity exceeding 2 000 kg.
Indonesia’s Future Plans and Wide Variety of Aircraft
Indonesia has been aggressively modernising its air force, though not all programmes have materialised.
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Rafale: In 2022 Indonesia signed an $8 billion deal for 42 Dassault Rafale fighters, including training, logistical support and simulators. The first three Rafales arrived in Indonesia in Jan 2026.
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Mirage 2000‑5: A 2023 contract to acquire Qatar’s fleet of 12 Mirage 2000‑5s was cancelled in 2024.
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KF‑21 Boramae: Indonesia remains an investor in the South‑Korean KF‑21 programme, but delayed payments have strained the partnership. Plans to receive a fifth prototype for local testing have been shelved.
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TAI Kaan: Following a 2025 agreement, Indonesia intends to purchase 48 Kaan fighters from Turkey (≈ $10 billion).
The Indonesian Air Force (TNI‑AU) currently operates:
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33 F‑16s
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11 Su‑30MK2 and 5 Su‑27SKM
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BAE Systems Hawk Mk. 209/109
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EMB‑314 Super Tucano
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6 T‑50i (used for lead‑in fighter training and light‑attack)
The T‑50i fleet was expanded in 2021 with six additional airframes. With the gradual phase‑out of Soviet‑origin platforms, Indonesia is shifting toward Western aircraft, reflecting its strategic position amid great‑power competition in the Indo‑Pacific.
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