September 30, 2025 | 09:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is set to receive six T-50i Golden Eagle fighter jets from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), with the first batch scheduled for delivery in November 2025.
In this initial phase, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) will take delivery of two Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) jets, designed primarily for training purposes.
“The delivery is based on an agreement signed in 2021,” said First Marshal I Nyoman Suadnyana, Head of the Air Force’s Information Service, in a text message to Tempo on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
Specifications and Capabilities T-50i Golden Eagle
The T-50i Golden Eagle, developed by KAI in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, is a supersonic training aircraft powered by the General Electric F404-GE-102 engine. It can reach speeds of Mach 1.5 (1,600 km/h), fly at altitudes up to 55,000 feet, and carry up to five tons of weaponry. The jet is also equipped with a 20mm three-barrel Gatling cannon capable of firing 2,000 rounds per minute.
Indonesia has operated 16 T-50i units since 2014, stationed at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta. The new delivery will add to this fleet.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the 2021 procurement of six additional units was made to meet operational demands and strengthen the Air Force’s capabilities.
First Marshal Penny Radjendra, then Head of the ministry’s Public Relations Bureau, stressed that the process complied with procurement regulations and incorporated local industry participation where possible to support domestic defense development.
The delivery schedule was confirmed after Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Marshal Tedi Rizalihadi, inspected the production process at KAI’s facilities in Sacheon, South Korea, on September 29, 2025.
Tedi and his delegation were received by KAI Senior Executive Vice President Jae-Byoung Cha and briefed on the program’s progress before touring the facilities.
“These six T-50i units will strengthen the Indonesian Air Force,” said Suadnyana in a written statement, adding that the acquisition is part of Indonesia’s broader defense modernization strategy to boost combat readiness.
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