Indonesia acquires first Rafale fighter aircraft
Indonesia seeks to acquire a total of 42 Rafale fighter aircraft from France. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images)
Indonesia has acquired its first Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft from France as part of a long-standing plan to rejuvenate the air combat power capabilities of the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU).
“Three Rafale fighter jets have arrived in Indonesia and are now at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base,” Brigadier General Rico Sirait, head of Indonesia's Defence Information Bureau, said in a press statement on 27 January.
The three aircraft are part of an initial order of six Rafales scheduled for delivery in 2026. Having completed administrative and technical handover procedures, the Rafales are ready for use by the TNI-AU, Brig Gen Sirait added.
Indonesia seeks a total of 42 Rafale fighter aircraft, with a contract for the first tranche of six Rafales having become effective in September 2022. In August 2023, Indonesia announced that a second tranche of 18 Rafales had come into force.
Strategic location
Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, located in Riau province on Sumatra, hosts the TNI-AU's Air Wing 6 with two combat squadrons. One unit, Air Squadron 16, is equipped with Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft. The other, Air Squadron 12, was equipped with Hawk Mk 109/209 aircraft until January 2026.
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