DefenseFirst image of Indonesian Rafale fighter jet emerges
The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) has released the first image of its Dassault Rafale fighter jet, still on the assembly line in Mérignac, France, but already bearing national insignia and a two-tone grey camouflage.
The aircraft, a twin-seat Rafale B registered T-0301, features the emblem of the 6th Air Wing on its tail, with the 12th Air Squadron set to be the first Indonesian unit to operate the type.
Indonesia ordered 42 Rafales in 2022(30 single-seat (Rafale A) and 12 twin-seat (Rafale B)) all in the F4 variant. Deliveries will take place in three phases: an initial batch of six aircraft, followed by two more batches of 18, starting in 2026.
Currently, a group of four TNI AU pilots and 12 technicians are in France for initial training. The technicians are undergoing both theoretical and hands-on instruction, working alongside operational French Air and Space Force squadrons.
The pilots will complete their classroom phase before heading on August 20 to Saint-Dizier Air Base, where they will train in simulators and flights until December this year.
The Rafale is seen as a central element in Indonesia’s air defense modernization program, joining its F-16s and Sukhoi Su-27/Su-30 fighters. The F4 standard includes upgraded sensors, integration of new weapons, improved datalink, and enhanced connectivity features for high-intensity operations.
The first image of the Indonesian Rafale comes shortly after the country’s government signed an agreement with Turkey to receive 48 KAAN fifth-generation fighter jets.
The stealth aircraft is under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries and has only one prototype completed so far.
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