Indonesia’s decision to purchase 42 Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C fighter jets marks a major turning point in Southeast Asia’s defence landscape, and, more broadly, in the global balance of power within the arms industry. The deal, worth over $9 billion as confirmed by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, represents Jakarta’s first large-scale move away from its long-standing dependence on Western aircraft suppliers. For Beijing, it’s not just a commercial victory but a powerful validation of Chinese military technology on the global stage, one catalysed by Pakistan’s recent success with the J-10C.
Until now, Indonesia’s air force modernization plans have largely revolved around Western and Russian models: the F-16s, Sukhoi Su-27s, and the recently finalized Dassault Rafale order from France. The 2024 Rafale deal, involving another 42 aircraft, was meant to anchor Indonesia’s high-end air combat capability, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2026. But Jakarta’s abrupt turn toward China suggests a deep shift in strategic thinking, one driven by cost, performance, and politics alike. The J-10C, a versatile multirole fighter developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, has proven to be a highly capable platform, and recent events have showcased its value under real combat conditions.
The game-changer came during the 2025 Indo-Pakistan standoff, a brief but intense conflict that saw the Pakistan Air Force employ its J-10C fleet with precision and confidence. In that confrontation, Pakistani pilots reportedly used the aircraft’s AESA radar, advanced avionics, and PL-15 long-range missiles to establish air superiority against better-known Western systems. The J-10C’s successful combat performance, especially against aircraft previously thought to have a technological edge, caught the world’s attention. Analysts noted that several French-built Rafales, operated by India, were destroyed or grounded during the fighting, denting the Rafale’s reputation as one of the most capable multirole fighters on the market. The episode became a showcase for Chinese engineering, giving the J-10C what no marketing campaign could: real-world credibility.
For years, China’s defence exports struggled to compete with Western and Russian offerings in terms of prestige and trust. Many countries viewed Chinese arms as budget options rather than high-end choices. But the Pakistan experience provided a strong counterexample, showing that China’s weapons could perform not only reliably but decisively. When Indonesia began assessing its next-generation fighter options, the J-10C suddenly looked far more attractive. Its proven record, combined with Beijing’s willingness to offer favourable financing and technology transfer terms, gave it an edge that Western manufacturers rarely match.
From a strategic standpoint, Indonesia’s dual acquisition of both Rafales and J-10Cs is an attempt at balance. It reflects Jakarta’s broader foreign policy: maintaining good relations with both Western powers and China while pursuing military self-reliance. Yet this new purchase tilts the balance subtly eastward. By integrating Chinese aircraft into its air force, Indonesia aligns itself more closely with Beijing’s defence ecosystem, training, maintenance, logistics, and potentially joint development down the line. This is more than a hardware decision; it’s a sign of growing comfort with China as a defence partner.
For China, the implications are enormous. The J-10C’s success in Pakistan and subsequent sale to Indonesia could open doors across the developing world. Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand are closely watching Indonesia’s moves. If the J-10C performs well in Indonesian service, it could accelerate a regional trend toward Chinese arms, especially as Beijing pairs defence exports with economic incentives through the Belt and Road Initiative. This gives China an integrated soft-power advantage: nations buying its weapons also become entwined with its logistics, training, and political frameworks.
The deal also underscores the shifting economics of global defence procurement. Western aircraft have grown increasingly expensive and politically encumbered. US systems like the F-35 come with layers of export restrictions, end-use monitoring, and maintenance dependencies that many countries find intrusive. France’s Rafale, though technologically advanced, carries a steep price tag and limited flexibility in technology sharing. In contrast, China’s approach is pragmatic: competitive pricing, quick delivery, and fewer political strings attached. For emerging economies like Indonesia, that combination is hard to resist.
Still, Jakarta’s decision isn’t without risks. Operating both French and Chinese aircraft introduces logistical and interoperability challenges. The two systems use entirely different maintenance standards, avionics architectures, and weapons ecosystems. Managing spare parts, pilot training, and mission planning across such divergent platforms will test the Indonesian Air Force’s adaptability. But Indonesia has long embraced a “multi-source” procurement philosophy to avoid overdependence on any one supplier, and the government seems confident that the benefits outweigh the complications.
Beyond the technical details, this moment reflects the erosion of Western dominance in the global arms market. The 2025 Indo-Pakistan standoff exposed vulnerabilities in Western air systems that had gone untested for decades, while elevating China’s status as a credible alternative. The symbolism matters as much as the substance. For decades, military prestige has been defined by who flies what: F-16s and Rafales signified Western alignment, while Chinese aircraft suggested second-tier status. Now, that distinction is blurring. When a nation like Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy and a key US strategic partner, chooses Chinese jets, it signals that the old hierarchy no longer holds.
The J-10C’s success tells a larger story about the democratization of advanced military technology. Where once only a handful of Western countries could field top-tier fighters, today nations like China can produce competitive systems at scale and offer them globally. For countries looking to modernize without surrendering autonomy, that’s an appealing proposition. As Indonesia moves forward with its dual-fighter strategy, the world will be watching closely, not just to see how the J-10C performs, but to gauge how far Chinese influence has come in reshaping the future of air power.
Pakistan’s battlefield success gave the J-10C its spotlight moment, but Indonesia’s purchase cements its global coming-of-age. It’s no longer just a Chinese fighter, it’s now a symbol of shifting loyalties, emerging multipolarity, and the steady rebalancing of the world’s defence markets.