After the Rafale-J-10C showdown during the high-intensity India-Pakistan clash, it appears both cutting-edge aircraft could be headed for another clash, and this time in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia, which could place a repeat order for French Rafale fighters from Dassault Aviation, has now been offered the J-10C by China. This may not be a direct aerial clash between Chinese-origin and French-origin jets, but this ‘showdown’ could define the export prospects of both the fighters.
Indonesian Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto said during a public discussion in Jakarta that China has offered the J-10C jets to the country. The jets were reportedly offered when Indonesian Air Force representatives visited China.
The Minister said the government was examining whether the aircraft, which is widely used by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), could meet operational requirements and if it could be integrated with existing Indonesian platforms.
He emphasized that the review is still in its early stages and that Jakarta has not dispatched a team to conduct a technical examination or follow up on the offer.
“This is just an offer,” Taufanto said, indicating that the discussions are currently in a very nascent stage. “We have had talks with China and they offered us a lot, not just J-10, but also ships, arms, frigates,” said Taufanto.
Following this revelation, Chinese state-owned publication Global Times quoted a military expert as saying that the J-10C is a cutting-edge fighter jet that could attract several potential buyers, particularly after having “proved its effectiveness in real battle.”
The expert was referring to Pakistan’s claims of downing three Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighters using long-range PL-15E missiles fired from the J-10C.
Chinese military affairs expert Fu Qianshao stated that China’s J-10C fighter jet is a remarkable aircraft that has now been tested in actual combat. With cutting-edge avionics and radar systems, it has demonstrated its exceptional beyond-visual-range air-to-air combat capabilities. He said it would be a very alluring choice for countries aiming to upgrade their fleets.
While Pakistan’s claims remain unsubstantiated due to a lack of credible evidence and official Indian confirmation, they have been widely used by China to promote its aircraft in the export market.
On his part, the Indonesian Deputy Defense Minister stated that the pragmatic, non-aligned defense strategy reflected in Indonesia’s procurement plan provides the country with considerable flexibility to seek military agreements with a variety of partners.
“If we find that the jet performs well, meets our criteria, and comes at a good price, why not?” he said, referring to the J-10. “We’re not bound by any alliance, so we can source weapons from any country, including China.”
China’s J-10C Offers a Challenge To Rafale?
Indonesia has been exploring several options to modernise its aging air fleet, which consists mainly of Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 aircraft, British Hawk 109/209 aircraft, and US-made F-5 Tiger, while looking to diversify at the same time, in order to prevent over-reliance on a single source.
The country signed a US$8.1 billion defense deal with France in 2022 that included 42 Rafale fighter jets.
The same year, it inked a memorandum of understanding with Boeing in the same year to acquire up to 24 F-15EX fighters. Additionally, Indonesia is also engaged in the co-development of the KF-21 fighter jet with South Korea.
If a French, an American, and a South Korean fighter were not enough, the country has also been engaged in talks with Russia for the potential acquisition of the Su-35 fighter jet. In January 2025, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov stated that the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet deal with Jakarta remained “on the table.”
More recently, Jakarta expressed interest in the Turkish KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet and Turkish submarines during a visit to Turkey in April 2025, during which the two sides signed a cooperation agreement on defense matters.
A new purchase, however, could impact the Indonesian purchase of Rafales at a time when the anti-Rafale narrative is already gaining traction.
Chinese media had earlier claimed that the Indonesian leadership might be forced to reconsider its Rafale purchase in light of claims made by Pakistan.
The pro-China, Hong Kong-based SCMP said in a report last month that Indonesia’s bet on Rafale jets is facing scrutiny after Pakistan claimed to have downed three of the same aircraft used by India, raising questions in Jakarta about the cost, capability, and strategic logic behind the US$8.1 billion deal.
These reports were refuted by Indonesia. Dave Laksono, a member of Commission I at the House of Representatives, which oversees defense, defended the government’s decision to buy Rafales, saying that any “unverified claims in conflict zones cannot be used as the sole basis for assessing the effectiveness or failure of a particular weapons system”.
“In modern military history, even the most advanced jets such as the F-16, F/A-18, and F-22 have experienced incidents of being shot down or crashed due to certain tactical conditions,” Laksono said. “Therefore, the performance of the Rafale cannot be measured by just one incident that has not even been fully confirmed.”
All speculations about Indonesia reconsidering the purchase of Rafale were put to rest later in the month when French President Emmanuel Macron visited Indonesia as part of a three-country Southeast Asia tour.
Macron told reporters on May 28 that France and Indonesia have signed a preliminary defense agreement that could pave the way for new orders of military equipment from Paris, including Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene submarines.
“I am delighted that the letter of intent signed today could open up a new perspective with new orders for Rafales, Scorpenes, light frigates,” Macron said at a joint press conference sitting alongside General Probowo Subianto.
The statement reinforced confidence in the strength of ties between the two countries and Indonesia’s commitment to the Rafale, as reported by the EurAsian Times at the time.
Notably, Indonesia is yet to receive its first Rafale combat aircraft. Earlier, Mohamad Tonny Harjono, the head of the Indonesian Air Force, stated in February that six aircraft would land in Indonesia in the first half of 2026.
If Indonesia chose the J-10C, it is unlikely that the cash-strapped country would opt for the American F-15EX, which it has been exploring.
Indonesia’s defense budget for 2024 was approximately $9 billion, making large-scale acquisitions, such as the Rafale deal, a significant financial commitment. Adding the J-10C could strain resources, as operating multiple fighter types increases logistical, training, and maintenance costs.
The lower cost of the J-10C makes it an attractive option for a budget-conscious Indonesia, which could prompt a reevaluation of the Rafale deal’s scope or pace.
Moreover, the acquisition of both J-10Cs and Rafales could create an unprecedented level of complications in interoperability, which in turn could lead to scaling back one of the acquisitions to simplify operations.
Indonesia could proceed with both J-10Cs and Rafales, leveraging the J-10C’s affordability for rapid fleet expansion and the Rafale’s advanced capabilities for high-end missions.
