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

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

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

During the meeting, the air chief underlined 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 discussion with the Indonesian Air Chief, both sides discussed greater cooperation between air forces, joint training from basic to advanced levels, professional exchanges and collaboration in emerging aerospace domains. The Indonesian Air Chief sought support from the PAF to advance operational and flight training, recognizing the rich combat experience of the PAF. The Air Chief received the Medal of Honor, the highest award of the Indonesian Air Force in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the air power,” the ISPR said.

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

The ISPR said the Indonesian leadership appreciated the “professionalism, modernization drive and praised the advanced technological infrastructure” of the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park.

The PAF and its defense capabilities have gained significant international attention following last year’s India-Pakistan conflict, during which PAF aircraft successfully shot down six Indian aircraft, while none of Pakistan’s warplanes were seriously damaged. In the wake of the military success, many countries have shown keen interest in forging defense agreements with Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier highlighted that Pakistan’s defense production has strengthened post-conflict. He noted that global demand for the country’s fighter jets has increased and several nations are actively seeking to collaborate with Pakistan on defense issues. The Prime Minister emphasized that these developments will not only enhance Pakistan’s defense capabilities but also contribute positively to the country’s economy.