Indonesia Receives Its First Rafale Fighter Jet
Indonesia’s Air Force (TNI-AU) has unveiled its first Dassault Rafale fighter jet, with a twin-seat Rafale B (tail number T-0301) shown ready for training in France. This aircraft is the first of 42 Rafales ordered under a 2022 contract. In France, an initial cadre of four pilots and 12 technicians is learning Rafale systems and maintenance as part of a pilot training program. By late August, they will move to France’s Saint-Dizier base for simulator and live-flight training in preparation for the jet’s entry into Indonesian service.
Indonesia signed the Rafale deal on February 10, 2022, a roughly $8.1 billion agreement for 42 jets. The order comprises 30 single-seat Rafale C fighters and 12 two-seat Rafale B trainers, all in the latest “F4” standard. Deliveries are arranged in three batches—an initial six jets, followed by two batches of 18 each. The third contract for the final 18 jets was finalized in January 2024. The first Indonesian Rafales are expected to arrive in early 2026.
The Rafale is a 4.5-generation multi-role combat aircraft capable of a wide range of missions. The French F4 version features state-of-the-art avionics and sensors, including a modern AESA radar, electronic warfare systems, and advanced data fusion. It is compatible with a broad range of weapons.
The Rafale purchase is part of a broader modernization as Jakarta overhauls its air force, which is still flying older U.S. F-16s and Soviet/Russian Su-27 and Su-30 Flankers. The new jets will extend Indonesia’s reach across its vast archipelagic airspace and strengthen its deterrent capability. As Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Edwin Sumantha said, “The Rafale arrival will significantly increase the strength and readiness of the Indonesian Air Force in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty in the air.” The deal also makes Indonesia France’s largest military customer in Southeast Asia and only the second country in the Asia-Pacific (after India) to operate the Rafale, underscoring the jet’s growing presence in the region.
Air Force leaders have highlighted the Rafale program as a key part of ongoing Indonesia air force upgrades. Chief of Staff Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono praised the government’s commitment to modernizing TNI-AU equipment, and official releases describe the French training as developing “adaptive, modern, professional” crews for the new jets. In the coming years, these advanced fighters, along with other pending acquisitions, are expected to boost Indonesia’s air defense and regional deterrence substantially.