The United States will sell 24 refurbished F-16C/D fighter jets to Indonesia under a proposed deal announced Friday during the Asia-Pacific summit in Bali.
Including equipment, parts, training and logistical support, the price tag on the deal comes to roughly US$750 million, according to a statement by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notifying Congress of the planned sale.
In the statement, the DSCA said the deal “will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner that has been, and continues to be, an important force for economic progress in Southeast Asia.”
It said the new-to-Indonesia F-16s would give the country’s air force (the TNI-AU) the ability to operate in far-flung border regions beyond the capabilities of its current fleet of F-16A/Bs and ageing F-5s.
The aircraft will come from excess US stocks and will include upgraded radar and avionics.
