<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Indonesia and US aircraft manufacturer Boeing have agreed a deal for the sale of two dozen F-15EX fighter jets as Southeast Asia's biggest economy moves to modernise its fleet, Jakarta's defence minister said Tuesday.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) committing to the sale on Monday between Indonesian airforce and Boeing officials at the company's St Louis facility.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"MoU signing commitment to purchase 24 F-15EX Fighter Aircraft Units," Subianto wrote on Instagram under an image of him witnessing the deal's signing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Boeing said in a statement Monday the deal would "put Indonesia at the top of air dominance capabilities".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The F-15EX is the most advanced version of the fighter jet and the F-15 is only used by more than half a dozen countries globally.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jakarta currently owns US-made F-16 jets and ageing Russian Sukhoi jets. Last year it agreed to buy 42 French-made Rafale fighter jets in an $8.1 billion deal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The latest F-15 sale -- of which neither side has disclosed the value -- is still subject to US government approval.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It comes after Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin visited Jakarta in November for negotiations over the deal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Austin said he hoped Indonesia would proceed with the sale, saying it would increase interoperability with American forces and complement Jakarta's contingent of F-16 jets.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last year thousands of Indonesian and US troops held joint military drills as Washington and its allies expressed growing concern about China's increasing assertiveness in the Pacific.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The exercise in Indonesia known as "Super Garuda Shield" came after Beijing staged unprecedented war games around Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At least 4,000 American and Indonesian soldiers were joined in the two-week exercise by forces from Australia and Singapore -- as well as Japan, which participated in the drills for the first time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Washington said the drills were not aimed at any particular country. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>