Indonesia Details Preparation for Rafale Fighter Induction

Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense is preparing for the arrival of French-made Rafale fighter jets as part of its defense modernization efforts.

Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin met with the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force, Air Marshal M. Tonny Harjono, on January 7 in Jakarta to discuss the preparations.

The two officials reviewed the readiness of the Pekanbaru and Pontianak air bases for the Rafale jets, with pilot training set to begin in July 2025. "In the first stage, a number of pilots will be sent in July 2025 to undergo training with instructor qualifications in the French Air Force," said Harjono.

The meeting also addressed the deployment of squadrons and the development of defense infrastructure in Indonesia's Eastern Region.

The final batch of 18 Rafale jets, part of a 42-unit deal signed in February 2022, was confirmed in January 2024. This follows deliveries of six jets in September 2022 and 18 jets in August 2023. The last batch is expected to arrive by January 2026.

The Rafales will replace part of Indonesia’s existing fleet, which includes Sukhois, F-16s, British Hawks, and South Korean KAI T-50s. Indonesia is also pursuing the acquisition of Boeing F-15EX fighters and is involved in South Korea's KF-21 Boramae program.