Awaiting the Arrival of French-Made Rafale Fighter Jets in Indonesia

Awaiting the Arrival of French-Made Rafale Fighter Jets in Indonesia

Thursday, August 7, 2025

TSM—Indonesia is expected to receive its first Rafale B fighter jets in the first half of 2026, as part of a French-made fighter aircraft procurement contract signed in 2022.

Delivery of the first six units is scheduled to take place in stages, with three Rafale jets arriving between February and March 2026, and the remaining three before mid-year.

These fighter jets are part of a strategic agreement between Indonesia and France to strengthen defense cooperation.

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The Indonesian Ministry of Defense is also reportedly in advanced discussions with France regarding the possibility of acquiring between 12 and 24 more Rafale jets.

If realized, Indonesia's total number of Rafale fighter jets will reach 66, making Indonesia one of the largest Rafale operators outside Europe.

The Rafale aircraft that Indonesia will receive include the Rafale C (single-seat) and Rafale B (two-seat) variants, with the F3R configuration (an initial order of six units has been converted to the F4) and the latest F4.

These fighter jets can carry a variety of modern weapons, including MICA and METEOR air-to-air missiles, SCALP cruise missiles, Exocet anti-ship missiles, and AASM smart bombs.

With an operational range of up to 3,700 kilometers and a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, the Rafale can carry up to nine tons of weapons on 14 hang-on points.

These aircraft are planned to replace the aging Hawk 100/200 fleet and strengthen the Indonesian Air Force's presence at Pekanbaru and Pontianak Air Bases.

This move also reflects Indonesia's strategy to diversify its defense equipment sources and reduce dependence on platforms from the United States and Russia. (isa/bac)

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