Indonesia has received three Rafale fighter jets from France as the first delivery under a USD 8 billion defense agreement signed in 2022 and expanded last year. A spokesperson for the Defense Ministry confirmed that the aircraft have been handed over and are ready for use by the Indonesian Air Force. The jets arrived on Friday and are now stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, on the island of Sumatra.
Indonesia has ordered up to 42 Rafale aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation, and the broader defense agreement with France also includes the purchase of frigates and submarines. The acquisition forms part of efforts to modernize Indonesia’s aging military equipment and increase defense spending under President Prabowo Subianto. Additional Rafale jets are expected to arrive later this year, although the number was not specified. Indonesia has become one of the most active participants in the global fighter jet market as it upgrades its air force capabilities.
Alongside the Rafale purchase, Indonesia has considered other aircraft options, including China’s J-10 fighter jets and the United States-made F-15EX. For long-term planning, Indonesia has signed a contract to buy 48 KAAN fighter jets from Turkey. The KAAN is a fifth-generation aircraft powered by General Electric F-110 engines, which are also used in fourth-generation Lockheed Martin F-16 jets. In addition, Indonesia and Pakistan have also discussed a potential agreement involving combat aircraft and armed drones.
(Source: Reuters)
