Singapore Airshow 2026: Boeing pulls plug on Indonesian F-15EX campaign

A US Air Force F-15EX Eagle II of the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron lands at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on 16 July 2025. (US Air Force/Airman Nathaniel Jackson)

Boeing has confirmed that it is no longer campaigning to sell its F‑15EX fighter aircraft to Indonesia.

In response to questions from Janes during Singapore Airshow 2026, a company spokesperson said Boeing is currently concentrating on delivering the F‑15EX to the US Air Force (USAF) and expanding production capacity at its St Louis facility for this purpose.

“There is no longer an active Indonesia F-15EX campaign,” said the spokesperson, who further advised that any further clarification should come from the US and Indonesian governments given that the prospective acquisition falls under Washington's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) framework.

The disclosure marks a significant about-face, as Indonesia had previously taken steps towards procuring the aircraft.

In August 2023, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Boeing for 24 F‑15EXs, designated locally as the F‑15IDN.

Signed during then Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto's visit to St Louis, the MoU represented a commitment to finalise the sale and was accompanied by strong public statements on the fighter's importance to Indonesian national sovereignty. Prabowo has since been elected as the president of Indonesia.

Boeing highlighted then that the Indonesian variant would feature advanced enhancements including digital fly‑by‑wire controls, a modern electronic warfare suite, an all‑glass cockpit, and the latest mission system software.

The MoU followed earlier US government approval for a potential Indonesian purchase.

In February 2022, the US Department of State cleared the sale of 36 aircraft in a deal estimated at USD13.9 billion, including radars, electronic warfare systems, and digital processors.