Indonesia has become the latest country to buy Rafale jet fighters after signing an initial contract for six of the French-made combat aircraft in Jakarta on Feb. 10.
Indonesia will also sign another contract for 36 Rafale in the near future, bringing the total number of Indonesian Rafale acquisitions to 42.
The contract was formally signed by Indonesian Defense Minister, Prabowo Subianto, and his French counterpart Florence Parly, during her two-day visit to Jakarta. Aside from Rafale, Indonesia and France have also signed four agreements regarding submarines, aircraft MRO, defense satellite, and ammunition production.
“We plan to acquire 42 Rafale […]. We start today by signing the first contracts for six aircraft,” said Subianto, after the contract signing. “(This) will be followed in the near future by a deal for 36 aircraft including support of weapons and simulator training,” he added.
The number of Rafales that Indonesia is preparing to acquire is less than what was first revealed in 2020, when it was reported that Indonesia is interested in buying 48 of the type. Nevertheless, the signing of the contract marks another milestone in Indonesia’s military modernization plan.
The signing of four other agreements also hints that Indonesia is preparing to acquire Scorpene submarines and military satellites, as well as acquiring the capability to conduct maintenance and repair of French-made combat aircraft, and large-caliber ammunition manufacturing processes in-house.
Rafale is a twin-engine, multi-role jet fighter designed and manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France. It has a maximum speed of about Mach 1.8, 1,850 km combat range and is able to carry up to nine tons of external loads under its 14 hardpoints.
Developed in the late 1970’s, the first Rafale prototype took flight in July 1986. It is now operational by the French Air Force and Navy as well as exported to seven other countries.
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