Indonesia seeks to leverage PAF’s training ecosystem and aerospace capabilities

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expressed keen interest in leveraging the advanced training ecosystem and aerospace development infrastructure of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to strengthen his country’s defense capabilities, the military’s media wing said on Friday.

A statement from Inter Services Public Relations said the Indonesian President expressed his intention during a meeting with Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, who is on an official visit to Indonesia.

During the meeting, the air chief highlighted the shared values ​​and long-standing brotherhood between Pakistan and Indonesia.

Previously, he held separate high-level meetings with Defense Minister Lieutenant General (Ret.) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Indonesian Air Marshal.

“During the discussions with the Indonesian Air Chief, the two sides discussed strengthening inter-air force cooperation, joint training from basic to advanced levels, professional exchanges and collaboration in emerging aerospace fields. The Indonesian Air Chief requested support from the PAF to advance operational and flight training, recognizing the PAF’s rich combat experience. The Air Chief was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest honor of Indonesian Air Force, in recognition of its role in strengthening bilateral air power cooperation,” the ISPR said.

ACM Sidhu also held a joint meeting with the Indonesian Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Force, during which a wide range of defense and security issues were discussed.

The ISPR said Indonesian leaders appreciated the PAF’s “professionalism and commitment to modernization and praised the advanced technological infrastructure” of the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park.

The PAF and its defense capabilities attracted significant international attention following last year’s India-Pakistan conflict, during which PAF aircraft managed to shoot down six Indian aircraft, while none of the Pakistani fighter jets were seriously damaged. Following these military successes, many countries have shown keen interest in entering into defense agreements with Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has previously highlighted that Pakistan’s defense production has strengthened in the aftermath of the conflict. He noted that global demand for the country’s fighter jets has increased, with several countries actively seeking to engage with Pakistan on defense issues. The Prime Minister highlighted that these developments will not only strengthen Pakistan’s defense capabilities but will also contribute positively to the country’s economy.