Indonesia’s defence minister met Pakistan’s air force chief in Islamabad to discuss a potential arms deal involving combat aircraft and armed drones, three security officials familiar with the talks said on Monday. The negotiations could pave the way for one of Pakistan’s largest defence exports as Jakarta looks to modernise its ageing air force fleet.
The discussions are part of Pakistan’s broader push to expand its defence industry’s global footprint through high-value military export deals. Islamabad is currently in separate negotiations with Libya’s National Army, Sudan’s military, and Saudi Arabia, signalling its ambition to become a significant regional defence supplier.
JF-17 Jets and Drones at the Core of the Talks
One of the officials said the talks focused on the sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets a multi-role aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China as well as surveillance and strike-capable drones. Two other sources said the negotiations were in an advanced phase and involved the possible sale of more than 40 JF-17s. One of them added that Indonesia had also expressed interest in Pakistan’s Shahpar drones.
The sources did not share details on delivery timelines or the expected duration of the proposed contract.
Both Pakistan’s military and Indonesia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the meeting between Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.
“The meeting focused on strengthening defence cooperation through strategic dialogue, institutional communication, and exploring mutually beneficial opportunities,” said Indonesian Defence Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait. He added that while discussions were productive, no formal agreements had yet been finalised.
Pakistan’s military also confirmed that Sjamsoeddin met with Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss “matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and avenues for enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.”
Indonesia’s Push to Modernise Its Air Fleet
A fourth security source told Reuters that Pakistan’s proposal includes JF-17 fighter jets, air defence systems, and specialised training for Indonesian air force personnel and engineers. “The Indonesia deal is in the pipeline,” said retired Air Marshal Asim Suleiman, who remains briefed on Pakistan’s export plans. He estimated the number of JF-17s under discussion to be close to 40.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visited Pakistan last month to strengthen bilateral ties, including cooperation on defence and security. The visit laid the groundwork for the current negotiations, officials said.
Indonesia has been actively upgrading its air force, signing contracts for 42 French Rafale jets worth $8.1 billion in 2022 and 48 Turkish KAAN fighter jets last year. Jakarta is also in talks to acquire U.S.-made F-15EX jets and has expressed interest in China’s J-10 fighters.
Pakistan’s Expanding Defence Industry
Pakistan’s arms exports have drawn increasing international attention since its JF-17s were used in combat during last year’s brief conflict with India. The aircraft has since featured in multiple export discussions, including a $4 billion weapons agreement with Libya’s National Army and a defence deal with Azerbaijan.
Islamabad is also exploring a defence partnership with Bangladesh that could include Super Mushshak trainer aircraft and JF-17 jets. Separately, Pakistan is negotiating a defence package with Saudi Arabia valued between $2 billion and $4 billion, reportedly involving the conversion of Saudi loans into military supplies.
As Pakistan works to position itself as a competitive exporter of affordable, combat-proven systems, deals such as the potential one with Indonesia could help consolidate its standing in the global defence market.
with inputs from Reuters
