Indonesia may expand Rafale order with up to 16 additional aircraft
During French President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to Jakarta on May 28, France and Indonesia signaled their intent to strengthen their strategic defense partnership.
A key announcement involved advanced talks for a potential new order of Rafale fighter jets, possibly including between 8 and 16 additional aircraft, according to sources within Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense.
The new batch would complement Indonesia’s ongoing acquisition program with Dassault Aviation, which includes 42 Rafale aircraft ordered in three phases: 6 jets in February 2022, 18 in August 2023, and another 18 in January 2024.
If confirmed, the new deal would bring Indonesia’s total Rafale fleet to 58 aircraft, making it one of the largest non-European operators of the model.
Deliveries starting in 2026
Despite the signed contracts, no aircraft have been delivered yet. The first six jets are expected to arrive in the first half of 2026, with three aircraft scheduled for delivery between February and March, and the remainder by mid-year.
Indonesia’s Rafales are expected to include both Rafale C (single-seat) and Rafale B (two-seat) variants, likely in F3R or F4 configurations. These models can deploy MICA and METEOR air-to-air missiles, SCALP cruise missiles, Exocet anti-ship missiles, and AASM precision-guided bombs. The multirole fighter has a range of up to 3,700 kilometers, top speeds of Mach 1.6, and a maximum payload of 9 tonnes across 14 hardpoints.
The Rafales will eventually replace the aging BAE Hawk 100/200 fleet, strengthening air force presence at the Pekanbaru and Pontianak air bases. The move also reflects Indonesia’s strategy to diversify military suppliers, reducing reliance on US and Russian platforms.
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