Indonesia has received three Rafale fighter jets from France, the first deliveries under a multi-billion-dollar defence deal. The jets arrived Friday and are now based at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru. Jakarta has ordered up to 42 Rafales from Dassault Aviation and expects additional deliveries later this year, though officials did not specify how many. The acquisition is part of a broader push to modernise Indonesia's air force alongside other planned purchases, including Turkish KAAN fighters.
Indonesia Takes Delivery of First Three Rafale Fighters from France — Major Boost for Air Force
A Dassault Rafale fighter jet is displayed at the 55th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
JAKARTA, Jan 26 (Reuters) — Indonesia has taken delivery of three Rafale fighter jets from France, the first aircraft to arrive under a multi-billion-dollar defence agreement between the two countries, a defence ministry official told Reuters on Monday. The arrival marks a significant upgrade to Indonesia's ageing air combat fleet.
"The aircraft have been handed over and are ready for use by the Indonesian Air Force," Defence Ministry spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait said in a message to Reuters. Sirait said the three jets arrived on Friday and are stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru on the western island of Sumatra.
Deal and Deliveries
Jakarta is France's main arms customer in Southeast Asia and has ordered up to 42 Rafales from Dassault Aviation as part of an expanding bilateral defence package that also includes French frigates and submarines. Indonesia signed an initial $8 billion deal with France in 2022 and expanded the arrangement last year.
Sirait said more Rafales are expected to arrive later this year but did not specify how many. The confirmed delivery of three jets is the first official acknowledgment that Indonesia now possesses the advanced fighters.
Broader Modernisation Effort
Indonesia has been one of the more active buyers on the global fighter market as it works to modernise its air force and allocate larger budgets to defence procurement. Alongside the Rafale, Jakarta has evaluated other options including China's J-10 and the U.S.-made F-15EX.
Looking further ahead, Indonesia has also contracted to acquire 48 KAAN fighters from Turkey — a fifth-generation design powered by General Electric F110 engines, the same family of engines used in some Lockheed Martin F-16 variants.
Reuters additionally reported that Indonesia and Pakistan held talks earlier this month about a possible deal for combat jets and armed drones, underscoring Jakarta's active engagement with multiple suppliers.
Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Writing by Fransiska Nangoy and Gibran Peshimam; Editing by David Stanway and Kate Mayberry.
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