Pakistan-Indonasia defence cooperation: Pakistan and Indonesia have discussed ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, amid reports that Jakarta has joined the list of countries evaluating the Pakistan-China co-developed JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.
Lieutenant General (Retd) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Indonesia’s Minister of Defence, called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday, according to an overnight statement issued by the Pakistan Army.
“The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and the exploration of avenues for enhancing bilateral defence cooperation,” the statement said, without disclosing specific outcomes.
The engagement comes at a time when Indonesia is seeking to modernise its armed forces—particularly its air combat fleet—while diversifying defence procurement sources. Reports in defence circles suggest that Jakarta is assessing the JF-17 Thunder as a cost-effective multirole combat aircraft, especially as it balances Western-origin platforms with indigenous and jointly developed systems.
The JF-17 Thunder is a lightweight multirole fighter jointly developed by Pakistan and China to meet the requirements of air forces seeking modern capabilities at comparatively lower cost. The aircraft is available in several variants, with the latest Block III featuring an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, upgraded avionics, and enhanced weapons integration for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Pakistan has actively marketed the JF-17 as a flexible export platform, offering options such as technology transfer, local assembly, and customised weapons packages. The fighter has been inducted into the Pakistan Air Force and exported to countries including Myanmar and Nigeria, while several other states in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have reportedly expressed interest.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, currently operates a mixed fleet that includes US-made F-16s and Russian-origin Sukhoi aircraft. In recent years, Jakarta has pursued a diversified procurement strategy aimed at modernising ageing platforms, managing budgetary constraints, and reducing reliance on a limited number of suppliers.
Indonesian defence policy has also placed emphasis on greater self-reliance and domestic industry participation—an approach that aligns with Pakistan’s pitch for the JF-17. Analysts say that any move by Indonesia to consider the aircraft would reflect a broader effort to balance operational needs, cost considerations, and strategic autonomy amid shifting security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region.
Defence ties between Pakistan and Indonesia have traditionally included training exchanges, military-to-military contacts, and cooperation in defence production. Observers note that the latest high-level engagement underscores Islamabad’s push to expand defence diplomacy in Southeast Asia, even as Indonesia recalibrates its partnerships in response to evolving regional and global security alignments.