Indonesia only has less than four years to fulfill its Minimum Essential Force (MEF) target by 2024 in the third Strategic Plan (Renstra) 2019-2024. By the end of 2019, only 63.19 percent of the goal was reached, behind the targeted 75.54 percent. As such, the burden is heavier than expected for the government to complete the MEF goal.

To meet the objective, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has visited several countries to seek opportunities to bolster the primary weapons system (Alutsista) for the Indonesian Military (TNI), as well as to cement any ongoing defense industry cooperation.

During a visit to Austria in October, for example, Prabowo discussed the possibility of buying Austria’s Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters. Indonesia’s purchase of second-hand jet fighters has a precedent. Back in 2012, the government decided to accept a grant of 24 F-16...