Prabowo Defends Plan to Buy 50 Boeing 777s: "We Need New Aircraft"

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto defends the deal reached with U.S. President Donald Trump to lower the import tariffs from 32 percent to 19 percent. According to him, there's nothing wrong with purchasing aircraft for Indonesian airlines.

"I believe there is no problem because we need the aircraft, and they want to sell. Boeing planes are also quite good," said Prabowo at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, East Jakarta, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. "There, two interests meet halfway."

The Gerindra Party chair refers to Garuda Indonesia as the nation's pride, as the airline was born during Indonesia's struggle for independence and became the nation's symbol. "I am determined to make Garuda Indonesia bigger, and yes, we need new airplanes for that," Prabowo said.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration had lowered the tariff for Indonesia, upon several agreements. Trump said Indonesia is committed to investing in several American products. "Indonesia has committed to purchasing $15 Billion Dollars in US Energy, $4.5 Billion Dollars in American Agricultural Products, and 50 Boeing Jets, many of them 777’s," he said through his @realDonaldTrump account, quoted on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Citing the Pima Air and Space Museum, the Boeing 777 is the world's largest twin-engine long-range aircraft. This aircraft has a capacity of between 314 and 396 passengers, two crew members, and up to thirteen flight attendants. The Boeing 777 was the first commercial airliner designed using computer-aided design tools.

As of 2018, the Boeing 777 had been ordered for a total of 1,988 by airlines worldwide. This number makes the 777 the most successful twin-engine long-haul aircraft ever, surpassing the number of orders for the previous-generation Boeing 747.

The specifications of the Boeing 777 include a wingspan of 199 feet 11 inches, with a body length of 209 feet 1 inch. It stands about 60 feet 9 inches tall, enabling the aircraft to reach a maximum speed of 587 miles per hour with a range of 5,240 miles. This type is said to use two high-bypass turbofan engines with a thrust of 93,400 pounds each.

Eka Yudha contributed to the writing of this article

Editor’s Choice: Bank Indonesia Boss Eyes Positive Impact on Financial Market After Trump Tariff Deal

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

What Is Jerome Powell's Net Worth in 2025? Inside the Wealth of the Fed Chair

1 jam lalu

Bank Indonesia Boss Eyes Positive Impact on Financial Market After Trump Tariff Deal

1 jam lalu

Freeport Reacts to Copper Export Plans After US Lowers Import Tariffs

1 jam lalu

IHSG Strengthens as BI Lowers Benchmark Interest Rate to 5.25%

2 jam lalu

Prabowo Says Trump Invited Him to the US, Jokes About Needing Golf Lessons

2 jam lalu

Pertamina Unveils $9.25 Billion Investment Opportunities Across 19 Projects

2 jam lalu

Prabowo Calls Trump a "Tough Negotiator" in Import Tariff Talks

3 jam lalu

Experts on Trump's Tariffs: Indonesia Isn't Heavily Dependent on US Exports

3 jam lalu

Trump's 19% Tariff Fuels Import Surge, Straining Indonesian Entrepreneurs

3 jam lalu

Indonesia Faces Potential Surge in Oil and Gas Imports After Trump-Prabowo Trade Deal

4 jam lalu