Indonesia moves toward M-346F Block 20 jet deal with Italy after F-15EX plan collapses
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During the Singapore Airshow on February 4, 2026, Leonardo announced a Letter of Intent with Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence and PT ESystem Solutions concerning the potential supply and support of M-346F Block 20 advanced training and light combat aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force.
On February 4, 2026, the Italian company Leonardo signed a Letter of Intent with PT ESystem Solutions and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence covering potential supply, support, and industrial cooperation for the M-346F Block 20 aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force. The non-binding agreement supports Indonesia’s requirement for advanced jet training and light combat capability as part of its ongoing fighter and trainer fleet recapitalization.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The M-346F Block 20 agreement outlines industrial cooperation, training, and in-country support as Indonesia seeks to replace aging Hawk trainers and address interim operational requirements. (Picture source: Leonardo)
The announcement specifies that the aircraft is intended to meet both advanced training and light combat requirements, placing it directly within Indonesia’s ongoing fighter and trainer fleet recapitalization effort. The Letter of Intent does not constitute a procurement contract but defines the industrial, operational, and support framework required to move toward one. Indonesia would become the third Asian operator of a M-346 variant and the second operator of the Block 20 standard after Austria, which finalized a contract in December 2025 for 12 M-346FA Block 20 aircraft.
The Indonesian Ministry of Defence selected the M-346 to address a combined requirement covering pilot training, lead-in fighter training, and limited operational combat tasks. This choice is explicitly linked to the replacement of aging British Hawk Mk 109 and Mk 209 advanced trainer aircraft, which entered Indonesian service from the late 1980s onward and remain in use for jet training and secondary attack roles. The Letter of Intent states that the parties will now move into the next phase of discussions with the stated objective of achieving a procurement contract signing soon. No aircraft quantity has been released, and the agreement does not define squadron assignments or basing. A central component of the Letter of Intent, however, is the localization of activities in Indonesia, including establishing domestic maintenance and overhaul capacity for the airframes and systems, training Indonesian technicians and instructors, and developing in-country training infrastructure.
The announcement follows a major shift in Indonesia’s wider fighter planning. On February 3, 2026, Boeing confirmed that Indonesia’s planned acquisition of the F-15EX Eagle II would not proceed and was no longer an active campaign. Indonesia and Boeing had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 21, 2023, covering a possible sale of 24 aircraft, following earlier approval for up to 36 F-15EX. The proposed F-15IND configuration was expected to include AN/APG-82(v)1 AESA radar, AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS, ADCP II mission computers, JHMCS for both crew members, AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN navigation pods, AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pods, MS-110 reconnaissance pods, and a possible AN/ASG-34 infrared search and track system. The termination of that path increases the importance of interim capabilities such as the M-346F Block 20.
The M-346F Block 20 is a twin-engine, two-seat aircraft derived from the M-346 trainer, configured specifically for fighter and operational roles. In the Block 20 standard, the cockpit is redesigned around two Large Area Displays, one per seat, replacing a six multi-function display layout, and complemented by a low-profile Head-Up Display and an augmented-reality helmet-mounted display. The aircraft integrates an active electronically scanned array radar, a Link 16 data link, electronic countermeasures, and a built-in missile data link. These systems support both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions while maintaining full advanced training functionality. The Block 20 standard was formally announced in 2024.
In terms of performance, the M-346F Block 20 retains the M-346 airframe powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines, each rated at 2,850 kg of thrust. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 1,065 km/h at low altitude, a service ceiling of 13,715 meters, and a ferry range of up to 2,220 kilometers with three external fuel tanks. The fighter configuration features seven external hardpoints and is designed to carry more than 2,000 kg of external stores. Integrated weapons options include air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, with compatibility expanded under the Block 20 standard. An aerial refuelling capability is included to increase endurance and time on station.
The M-346F Block 20 is also integrated into a wider training architecture that combines live flights with ground-based and simulated elements. This includes a Ground-Based Training System and a Live, Virtual, and Constructive environment, allowing simulated sensors, threats, and weapons to be combined with real aircraft sorties. The system is designed to support pilot progression toward high-performance fighters by replicating mission management and sensor fusion tasks during training. This approach reduces reliance on frontline fighters for early-phase training. The aircraft, therefore, functions as both an operational asset and a training system node.
At the same time, Indonesia continues to pursue one of the most intense and diversified air force modernization programs in the world. In 2022, Indonesia signed an $8 billion agreement with France for 42 Dassault Rafale fighters, and in January 2026, the first three fighter jets arrived in the country. Indonesia remains formally involved in South Korea’s KF-21 program as an investor, although delayed payments and a reduced financial contribution have strained the partnership, and Indonesia now seeks to secure 16 KF-21 Block 2s. In parallel, Indonesia has announced plans to acquire 48 Turkish Kaans for an estimated $10 billion and has been linked to interest in at least 42 Chinese J-10 fighters. Indonesia is also investing in naval aviation by purchasing the carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi for long-term maritime patrol and air defense.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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During the Singapore Airshow on February 4, 2026, Leonardo announced a Letter of Intent with Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence and PT ESystem Solutions concerning the potential supply and support of M-346F Block 20 advanced training and light combat aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force.
On February 4, 2026, the Italian company Leonardo signed a Letter of Intent with PT ESystem Solutions and the Indonesian Ministry of Defence covering potential supply, support, and industrial cooperation for the M-346F Block 20 aircraft for the Indonesian Air Force. The non-binding agreement supports Indonesia’s requirement for advanced jet training and light combat capability as part of its ongoing fighter and trainer fleet recapitalization.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The M-346F Block 20 agreement outlines industrial cooperation, training, and in-country support as Indonesia seeks to replace aging Hawk trainers and address interim operational requirements. (Picture source: Leonardo)
The announcement specifies that the aircraft is intended to meet both advanced training and light combat requirements, placing it directly within Indonesia’s ongoing fighter and trainer fleet recapitalization effort. The Letter of Intent does not constitute a procurement contract but defines the industrial, operational, and support framework required to move toward one. Indonesia would become the third Asian operator of a M-346 variant and the second operator of the Block 20 standard after Austria, which finalized a contract in December 2025 for 12 M-346FA Block 20 aircraft.
The Indonesian Ministry of Defence selected the M-346 to address a combined requirement covering pilot training, lead-in fighter training, and limited operational combat tasks. This choice is explicitly linked to the replacement of aging British Hawk Mk 109 and Mk 209 advanced trainer aircraft, which entered Indonesian service from the late 1980s onward and remain in use for jet training and secondary attack roles. The Letter of Intent states that the parties will now move into the next phase of discussions with the stated objective of achieving a procurement contract signing soon. No aircraft quantity has been released, and the agreement does not define squadron assignments or basing. A central component of the Letter of Intent, however, is the localization of activities in Indonesia, including establishing domestic maintenance and overhaul capacity for the airframes and systems, training Indonesian technicians and instructors, and developing in-country training infrastructure.
The announcement follows a major shift in Indonesia’s wider fighter planning. On February 3, 2026, Boeing confirmed that Indonesia’s planned acquisition of the F-15EX Eagle II would not proceed and was no longer an active campaign. Indonesia and Boeing had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 21, 2023, covering a possible sale of 24 aircraft, following earlier approval for up to 36 F-15EX. The proposed F-15IND configuration was expected to include AN/APG-82(v)1 AESA radar, AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS, ADCP II mission computers, JHMCS for both crew members, AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN navigation pods, AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pods, MS-110 reconnaissance pods, and a possible AN/ASG-34 infrared search and track system. The termination of that path increases the importance of interim capabilities such as the M-346F Block 20.
The M-346F Block 20 is a twin-engine, two-seat aircraft derived from the M-346 trainer, configured specifically for fighter and operational roles. In the Block 20 standard, the cockpit is redesigned around two Large Area Displays, one per seat, replacing a six multi-function display layout, and complemented by a low-profile Head-Up Display and an augmented-reality helmet-mounted display. The aircraft integrates an active electronically scanned array radar, a Link 16 data link, electronic countermeasures, and a built-in missile data link. These systems support both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions while maintaining full advanced training functionality. The Block 20 standard was formally announced in 2024.
In terms of performance, the M-346F Block 20 retains the M-346 airframe powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines, each rated at 2,850 kg of thrust. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 1,065 km/h at low altitude, a service ceiling of 13,715 meters, and a ferry range of up to 2,220 kilometers with three external fuel tanks. The fighter configuration features seven external hardpoints and is designed to carry more than 2,000 kg of external stores. Integrated weapons options include air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, with compatibility expanded under the Block 20 standard. An aerial refuelling capability is included to increase endurance and time on station.
The M-346F Block 20 is also integrated into a wider training architecture that combines live flights with ground-based and simulated elements. This includes a Ground-Based Training System and a Live, Virtual, and Constructive environment, allowing simulated sensors, threats, and weapons to be combined with real aircraft sorties. The system is designed to support pilot progression toward high-performance fighters by replicating mission management and sensor fusion tasks during training. This approach reduces reliance on frontline fighters for early-phase training. The aircraft, therefore, functions as both an operational asset and a training system node.
At the same time, Indonesia continues to pursue one of the most intense and diversified air force modernization programs in the world. In 2022, Indonesia signed an $8 billion agreement with France for 42 Dassault Rafale fighters, and in January 2026, the first three fighter jets arrived in the country. Indonesia remains formally involved in South Korea’s KF-21 program as an investor, although delayed payments and a reduced financial contribution have strained the partnership, and Indonesia now seeks to secure 16 KF-21 Block 2s. In parallel, Indonesia has announced plans to acquire 48 Turkish Kaans for an estimated $10 billion and has been linked to interest in at least 42 Chinese J-10 fighters. Indonesia is also investing in naval aviation by purchasing the carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi for long-term maritime patrol and air defense.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
