SHAH ALAM: Indonesia has purchased 12 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 from Qatar for US$745 million, Kompas newspaper reported on June 13.
According to Kompas, the purchase was made via an overseas loan. The 12 Mirages according to Kompas was purchased by Qatar in 1997 from France and the oldest is already 26-year-old.
Kompas said the Mirages were purchased as a stop gap measure pending the delivery of the 42 Dassault Rafale omni role fighters. Jakarta signed the deal for the Rafales in 2022. The Rafales replaced the 2000-5s in most countries that had purchased them in the late 80s and early 90s.
The 2000-5 were among the aircraft involved in the competition to supply fighter jets to Indonesia in the late 1980s. Indonesia in the end chose the F-16, most of which are still in service with the air force.
Malaysia had also looked at Mirage in its own fighter competition at that point but in the end bought the Mig-29 Fulcrum and the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet. The Hornets remained in service with RMAF.
— Malaysian Defence
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While our neighbor already buy the Mirage, we still have no news whatsover with Kuwait Hornets. As if the thing has been cancelled.
Qatar already have enough rafale as 1:1 replacement for Mirage 2000-5 and is starting to receive their F-15 and Typhoon. Kuwait on the other hand haven’t fully received their super hornet and Typhoon so it’s not surprising that they’re not in a hurry to sell
Also we were offered 27 airframe for, what? less than 300 million? It’s significantly cheaper than 745 million bucks for 12 mirage 2000-5 which is arguably less capable than F/A-18C/D hornet.
Dassault tried hard with the Mirage 2000. As part of the marketing drive one was at Subang for a few days and flew over the Putra Wotld Trade Centre.
On the TNI-AU according to Indonesians in a defence forum the TNI-AU’’s preference was actually more F-16s to streamline the fleet but politics being what it is. They will have a major/large logistical/support footprint : F-16s, Su-27s/Su-30s [various variants]; F//A/-50s and Rafale/Mirage 2000. There is also a strong political push to get F-15s and they have two attack helis: Apache and Mil-35s.
At $62 mil a piece. The used bird is almost as expensive as brand new f35s.
That price including not only airframe, but also spare parts, supporting maintenance infrastructure, training regime, life time sustainment and also weaponry packages.
IMO, it is a bad idea. I don’t know what logic behind maybe it is about politics rather than defence.
TNI can still use their F16s or upgrade them while waiting for the Rafale arrived.Is there something wrong with their F16s? Their latest F16s C/D was taken from the boneyard. There is no F16 can be bought unless from EDA.
On other news, ID is on talks now with UAE for additional mirage2000-9. Maybe they want another 12 units.
Pemilu (Pemilihan umum) aka the Indonesian General Election will be held in 2024.
The current Indonesian Defence Minister, Prabowo Subianto wants to take the third jab at being the Indonesian President
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prabowo_Subianto_2024_presidential_campaign
I believe, whatever he is currently doing with the defence procurements, will have something to do with him getting the required budget to fund his 2024 presidential campaign.
Did the TNI-AU deal another 12 Mirage 2000-9 from ex UAE recently?
They are still negotiating with UAE. But I think its done deal, really.
Hulubalang”
“will have something to do with him getting the required budget to fund his 2024 presidential campaign”
Naturaly, He is on the spotlight and many cameras are on him. India pays each unit of rafale more than ID for the same package. India only gets F3 variant but ID will get F4.
Azlan:
“TNI-AU’’s preference was actually more F-16s to streamline the fleet but politics being what it is”
Politics is inevitable. If TNI want F16 again then they must buy a new one. Nobody is selling their F16.
One peculiar point in most of the Indonesian recent acquisitions.
Most of the contract goes through Czech Excalibur Army, even if it is manufactured by other parties.
– Pandur II IFV
– RM-70 Vampire MLRS
– GDELS M3 self-propelled bridge system
– Treva 15 armored recovery vehicle
– HISAR SAM
– KHAN ballistic missile
– ex-Qatar Mirage 2000
It could be a way to divert a percentage of the budget for other uses.