Overview
- Leonardo and local partner PT ESystem Solutions have signed a confirmed contract to deliver 12 M-346 F Block 20 multirole light fighters to the Indonesian Ministry of Defence for use by the Air Force.
- Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2030 and the purchase couples advanced trainer capabilities with light combat roles to help transition pilots to higher-performance fighters.
- The contract requires localisation of support, maintenance, overhaul and training services and includes human-capital development to expand Indonesia’s domestic aerospace workforce.
- The Block 20 standard adds a Large Area Display, active electronically scanned radar, Link 16 datalink, electronic countermeasures, new weapons integration and aerial refuelling capability.
- Separately, Leonardo and Indonesia signed a non-binding Letter of Intent for AW149 naval helicopters that would focus on search and rescue, disaster relief and local maintenance if it proceeds to a firm contract; the M-346 programme is already used widely, with over 170,000 flight hours and more than 170 aircraft ordered globally.