SHAH ALAM: Japan is considering exporting used F15 engines to Indonesia, Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported on June 18. It reported that used F-15 fighter jet engines are being considered for export to Indonesia, according to several government sources.

The idea is for these engines from Air Self-Defence Force F-15s to be installed in Indonesia’s F-16 fighter jets.

From Yomiuri Shimbun:

The Japanese and Indonesian governments have already signed an agreement concerning the transfer of defence equipment and technology. The engines of F-15 and F-16 aircraft have similarities, so Tokyo has concluded that it can respond to Jakarta’s request for such engines.

As it is difficult to modernize the ASDF’s F-15s, about 100 of them will no longer be used in the future.

The operational guidelines of Japan’s Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology currently limit the overseas transfer of defence equipment to the purposes of “rescue, transportation, vigilance, surveillance or minesweeping.”

Parts are currently not included in the scope of the guidelines. Exporting them is permitted, however, in the case of international joint development with parts exported to the United States in the past.

The government is expected to present the policy in mind at a planned meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito. Some within the LDP have voiced the need to revise the guidelines to work toward the active export of parts among other equipment.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is also negotiating for the purchase of 12 Mirage 2000-9 from the United Arab Emirates. The Mirage 2000-9s are equipped for strike missions. It is unclear when the contract will be signed though. The ex-UAE aircraft will complement the 12 Mirage 2000-5s Indonesia had purchased from Qatar. The Mirages are expected to serve until 2030 as a stop-gap before the entry into service of Dassault Rafales and likely also F-15EXs.

— Malaysian Defence