DefenseIndonesia takes delivery of the first three Dassault Rafale fighters
Indonesia took delivery of its first three Dassault Rafale multi-role fighters from France on January 23, with the aircraft arriving at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, on the island of Sumatra, according to Reuters.
The handover marks the first deliveries under Indonesia’s contract for up to 42 Rafales, part of an agreement signed with France in February 2022 and later expanded. The deal, valued at around $8 billion, represents one of Jakarta’s largest defence acquisitions to date and forms a central element of the country’s effort to replace ageing combat aircraft.
“The aircraft have been handed over and are ready for use by the Indonesian Air Force,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait said in response to a Reuters query. He confirmed that the three jets arrived on Friday and are now based in Pekanbaru, adding that additional aircraft are expected to be delivered later this year, without specifying numbers.
Indonesia has emerged as France’s largest defense customer in Southeast Asia, ordering not only Rafale fighters built by Dassault Aviation but also French-made frigates and submarines. The purchases coincide with a period of rising defence spending under President Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces commander.
Beyond the Rafale program, Jakarta has explored other fighter options as part of its long-term force renewal plans. These have included discussions around China’s J-10 and the U.S.-built F-15EX. Indonesia has also signed a contract to acquire 48 KAAN fighter jets from Turkey, a fifth-generation design powered by General Electric F110 engines, and has held talks with Pakistan on the possible acquisition of combat aircraft and armed drones.
The Rafale deliveries are expected to continue through the coming years as Indonesia phases out older platforms and restructures its air combat fleet.
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