Update: Indonesia orders 42 Rafale fighters

Indonesia signed up to procure 42 latest-generation Rafale fighter aircraft from France, Dassault Aviation announced on 10 February. (French Air and Space Force)

Indonesia has signed a contract for the acquisition of 42 Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft, the manufacturer announced on 10 February.

Dassault CEO Eric Trappier and Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU) Vice Marshal Yusuf Jauhari, head of Defence Facilities Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD), signed the contract during a ceremony held in Jakarta and attended by the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, and her Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto.

“I am confident that the Rafale will meet the operational needs of the Indonesian Air Force, actively contributing to the defence and sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia,” said Trappier.

The contract secures six more Rafales than the 36 mentioned during 2021 as the stated requirement for the TNI-AU to replace the retired Northrop Grumman F-5E/F Tiger II fighters.

The deal also provides a complete turnkey solution that includes aircrew training, logistical support for several Indonesian air bases, and a training centre with two full-mission simulators, the company said.

At the ceremony, Prabowo said that the contract signed was for the first batch of six Rafales and that contracts will follow for the additional 36 aircraft on order. In late January,Prabowo had stated that negotiations for the Rafale acquisition were completed and that the “contract” was “awaiting activation”, following a letter of intent signed in June 2021.

Janes understands that funding for the first six airframes will come from a foreign-sourced loan, which will have to be approved first by the Indonesian Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Kementerian Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional: BAPPENAS).