Indonesia
The deal covers the procurement of a dozen Leonardo M-346 F by 2030 as part of the Indonesian Air Force’s fleet modernization efforts, though it is unclear why the Defense Ministry is using ESS, which has no known track record in delivering technology transfers or offset programs.
President Prabowo Subianto (center), flanked by Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (third left) and Italian Ambassador to Indonesia Jakarta Roberto Colamine (third right), poses during a signing ceremony at the State Palace in Central Jakarta, in this undated photo provided by Leonardo on July 21, 2026. Also attending the ceremony were (from left) Italian Defense Attache in Jakarta navy Capt. Giovanni Marilli, Italian aerospace company Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani, Indonesian Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal M. Tonny Harjono and PT E-System Solutions Indonesia president director Habib Boukharouba. (Courtesy of Leonardo/-)
Indonesia is to receive 12 Italian-made M-346 F Block 20 multirole light fighter aircraft in 2030 under a contract signed on July 21 between Leonardo and local brokerage PT E-System Solutions (ESS) Indonesia in Farnborough, England, the Italian aerospace and defense giant has announced.Earlier in February, ESS Indonesia, a subsidiary of E-System Solutions FZ based in the United Arab Emirates, signed a letter of intent (LoI) on the procurement of Leonardo M-346 F with the Defense Ministry at the Singapore Air Show.
