Yeah you have a point.
And if I think about it again, in December 2020 french Minister of defense already said rafale contract from Indonesia is almost certain. So why American still want to submit f15/f18 proposal this Q2 if the posibility almost none?
I'll take rafale license for 100+ unit and buy 1-2 skadron worth of EX (no need for locally build) if I am 08 pembisik.
Just concentrate with one platform for locally build and again we don't need huge number of heavy fighter.
but estimation of rafale we gonna buy is 30+
(I'm still thinking F15 is a heavy fighter that we'll never be a able to operate in big number, We have to buy another jet as medium fighter too)
PW need to take sometimes to certified F100 for F15ex, I don't think we want to wait.
If we choose super eagle, most likely we'll use F110. That's mean less commonality.
This locally made (assembly) fighter idea surfacing more and more lately
https://amp.kompas.com/nasional/read/2021/02/08/13322531/eks-ksau-indonesia-memungkinkan-produksi-pesawat-tempur-sendiri-tapi
2002 chief of staf of Indonesian Air Force talk about posibility of locally made fighter.
"We already have capability to build sub on our own, why need to buy those rubbish old sub, BLA BLA BLA....."
I could see this coming 😂
Edit: the article is gone
We still got its superior range, superior censor and radar, etc.
And if the situation heathen up and worsen, I'm sure the power of kepepet wil emerged, means more spending on defence, more bomb and munition, etc.
Lockheed Martin *
Just tell him he already got his ego on F15ex (or F18), so just take that F16 for the sake of cheaper operational spending and commonality.
"There is no way Boeing would field two fighters in the SAME competition,"
Except We actually have 2 competition going on right now, Su35-equivalent and F16v-equivalent .
F15 can do maritime strike too.