Indonesian Air Force accepts first three Rafale F4 fighter jets in France
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Indonesia formally accepted its first three Rafale F4 fighters at Dassault Aviation’s Merignac facility in France on November 28, 2025, initiating the transition to operational preparation ahead of the aircraft entering service in early 2026.
On November 28, 2025, the Indonesian Air Force held an acceptance ceremony for the first three Rafale fighters at Dassault Aviation’s Merignac production line in Bordeaux. Marking the official handover of these jets, the event was attended by representatives of Dassault Aviation, Safran, and Thales, the Indonesian Deputy Air Force Chief of Staff, who represented the Air Force leadership and oversaw technical presentations, airframe inspections, and reviews of airworthiness and operational readiness. The ceremony also included briefings on maintenance, logistics, and sustainment plans that will support the Rafale once based in Indonesia.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In total, Indonesia is acquiring 16 dual-seat and 26 single-seat Rafales for $8.1 billion, all in the latest F4 standard, in a package that includes a turnkey solution with training, logistics support, and a dedicated training center with full mission simulators. (Picture source: Indonesia Air Force)
Operational progress began before the acceptance ceremony when aircraft T-0301 conducted taxi trials on September 16, 2025, and completed its maiden flight on September 19, 2025, at Merignac. The jet carried full Indonesian markings, a two-tone gray camouflage scheme, and the insignia of Air Squadron 12, confirming the unit’s role as the first operator within the 6th Air Wing. Personnel preparation also advanced through an initial training program that included four pilots and 12 technicians deployed to France for several months in 2025. The training combined classroom instruction on aircraft systems, avionics, and armament with simulator sessions for mission rehearsal and emergency procedures. Flight training took place at Saint-Dizier Air Base and focused on familiarization with Rafale handling and operational characteristics. Maintenance personnel received instruction in hangars, conducting work alongside French Air and Space Force technicians. The early delivery of dual-seat aircraft was planned to accelerate conversion training and begin integrating Rafale crews into operational planning shortly after the aircraft arrived in Indonesia.
The Rafale F4 selected by Indonesia is a twin-engine multirole fighter with a 10.3-meter wingspan, a 15.3-meter length, and an empty weight of roughly 10 tonnes. Powered by two Safran M88 turbofans, each producing up to 75 kilonewtons of thrust in afterburner for sustained supersonic flight, this fighter has a maximum speed of approximately Mach 1.8 at altitude and a typical unrefueled combat radius of about 1,850 kilometers, depending on payload and mission profile. The airframe can support a maximum external load of 9.5 tonnes distributed across 14 hardpoints, allowing carriage of air-to-air missiles, precision-guided bombs, reconnaissance pods, and fuel tanks. With a service ceiling of around 15,000 meters and a climb rate averaging 305 meters per second, the F4 retains the Rafale’s digital flight control system and delta canard layout designed for high agility and stable maneuvering at varying speeds. It is equipped with an internal 30 mm cannon and can employ long-range, medium-range, and short-range weapons as required. The jet also incorporates a multirole mission software that manages navigation, targeting, and sensor fusion functions to support air defense, strike, and maritime missions.
The transfer of the first three Rafales from France to Indonesia, planned for January 2026, will involve a ferry flight through multiple stages, supported by extensive air-to-air refueling since the fighter jets (identified as T-0301, T-0302, and T-0303) cannot cover the full distance without tanker support, making the Airbus A330 MRTT a key element of the transfer. Typical routes for long-range deployments include stopovers in Djibouti, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, which provide refueling and technical support infrastructure. These routes have been used in previous missions involving Rafale formations projected to other regions. India and Gulf states are also practical staging points for the final flight segments toward Southeast Asia. The participation of Indonesian pilots in the ferry mission is possible once they complete initial conversion training. The journey will involve coordination between air traffic authorities along the route and planning for contingencies and diversions. Completing the ferry mission will mark the transition from acceptance in France to operational preparation in Indonesia. The aircraft will then undergo local checks and integration steps before the Air Force begins operational trials, probably with the Air Squadron 12.
Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru has been selected as the first Rafale operating base, and its preparations were reviewed on November 26, 2025, by the Air Force Logistics Staff through a monitoring and evaluation activity. The assessment examined maintenance facilities, support equipment, infrastructure upgrades, and the logistics chain required for sustained Rafale operations. The focus was on verifying the readiness of hangars, fuel installations, munitions storage, and technical support elements. The evaluation team highlighted the need to identify constraints early to shape maintenance planning and ensure continuity of operations after the aircraft lands. Base leadership underscored that the visit provided essential inputs for long-term logistics and personnel allocation. These assessments form part of a phased approach to ensure that ground crews, facilities, and mission support systems are aligned with the aircraft’s arrival. Proper infrastructure readiness is crucial for acceptance, servicing, and mission generation once the Rafales are stationed at the base. The Air Force intends for the base to support both initial and subsequent batches.
Indonesia’s broader Rafale program consists of 42 aircraft ordered in several phases, beginning with six in 2022 and followed by two additional tranches of 18 aircraft in 2023 and 2024, forming a total package of 16 dual-seat and 26 single-seat jets. With all these batches combined, Indonesia’s Rafale deal is estimated at $8.1 billion, a program that includes training systems, simulators, logistics support, and technical facilities. Indonesia selected the Rafale F4 standard, which features improvements to the RBE2 AESA radar, the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, the OSF infrared search and track, and targeting and reconnaissance pods. The F4 standard also integrates the MICA Next Generation missile, a 1,000-kilogram variant of the AASM precision-guided munition, and a helmet-mounted display for pilots. These Rafale F4s are intended to provide the Indonesian Air Force with a modern multirole capability that supports air defense, long-range missions, and interoperability with existing assets. By combining fighters from the United States, France, Russia, South Korea, Türkiye, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and China within a single Air Force, Indonesia now operates one of the broadest mixes of combat aircraft ever assembled by any nation.
The arrival of the first batch between February and March 2026, followed by a second batch in April 2026, will allow the Air Force to begin establishing initial operational capability as Roesmin Nurjadin completes infrastructure adjustments and personnel assignments. Training conducted in France, combined with the buildup of local maintenance capability, is expected to support the aircraft’s early service period. Over time, the Air Force will integrate Rafales into mission planning, networked operations, and regional exercises. Indonesia intends to use the fleet for air defense, air policing, and long-range missions. As deliveries progress and additional Rafales arrive, the Air Force will expand the use of simulators, technical training programs, and mission readiness evaluations.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
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Indonesia formally accepted its first three Rafale F4 fighters at Dassault Aviation’s Merignac facility in France on November 28, 2025, initiating the transition to operational preparation ahead of the aircraft entering service in early 2026.
On November 28, 2025, the Indonesian Air Force held an acceptance ceremony for the first three Rafale fighters at Dassault Aviation’s Merignac production line in Bordeaux. Marking the official handover of these jets, the event was attended by representatives of Dassault Aviation, Safran, and Thales, the Indonesian Deputy Air Force Chief of Staff, who represented the Air Force leadership and oversaw technical presentations, airframe inspections, and reviews of airworthiness and operational readiness. The ceremony also included briefings on maintenance, logistics, and sustainment plans that will support the Rafale once based in Indonesia.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
In total, Indonesia is acquiring 16 dual-seat and 26 single-seat Rafales for $8.1 billion, all in the latest F4 standard, in a package that includes a turnkey solution with training, logistics support, and a dedicated training center with full mission simulators. (Picture source: Indonesia Air Force)
Operational progress began before the acceptance ceremony when aircraft T-0301 conducted taxi trials on September 16, 2025, and completed its maiden flight on September 19, 2025, at Merignac. The jet carried full Indonesian markings, a two-tone gray camouflage scheme, and the insignia of Air Squadron 12, confirming the unit’s role as the first operator within the 6th Air Wing. Personnel preparation also advanced through an initial training program that included four pilots and 12 technicians deployed to France for several months in 2025. The training combined classroom instruction on aircraft systems, avionics, and armament with simulator sessions for mission rehearsal and emergency procedures. Flight training took place at Saint-Dizier Air Base and focused on familiarization with Rafale handling and operational characteristics. Maintenance personnel received instruction in hangars, conducting work alongside French Air and Space Force technicians. The early delivery of dual-seat aircraft was planned to accelerate conversion training and begin integrating Rafale crews into operational planning shortly after the aircraft arrived in Indonesia.
The Rafale F4 selected by Indonesia is a twin-engine multirole fighter with a 10.3-meter wingspan, a 15.3-meter length, and an empty weight of roughly 10 tonnes. Powered by two Safran M88 turbofans, each producing up to 75 kilonewtons of thrust in afterburner for sustained supersonic flight, this fighter has a maximum speed of approximately Mach 1.8 at altitude and a typical unrefueled combat radius of about 1,850 kilometers, depending on payload and mission profile. The airframe can support a maximum external load of 9.5 tonnes distributed across 14 hardpoints, allowing carriage of air-to-air missiles, precision-guided bombs, reconnaissance pods, and fuel tanks. With a service ceiling of around 15,000 meters and a climb rate averaging 305 meters per second, the F4 retains the Rafale’s digital flight control system and delta canard layout designed for high agility and stable maneuvering at varying speeds. It is equipped with an internal 30 mm cannon and can employ long-range, medium-range, and short-range weapons as required. The jet also incorporates a multirole mission software that manages navigation, targeting, and sensor fusion functions to support air defense, strike, and maritime missions.
The transfer of the first three Rafales from France to Indonesia, planned for January 2026, will involve a ferry flight through multiple stages, supported by extensive air-to-air refueling since the fighter jets (identified as T-0301, T-0302, and T-0303) cannot cover the full distance without tanker support, making the Airbus A330 MRTT a key element of the transfer. Typical routes for long-range deployments include stopovers in Djibouti, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, which provide refueling and technical support infrastructure. These routes have been used in previous missions involving Rafale formations projected to other regions. India and Gulf states are also practical staging points for the final flight segments toward Southeast Asia. The participation of Indonesian pilots in the ferry mission is possible once they complete initial conversion training. The journey will involve coordination between air traffic authorities along the route and planning for contingencies and diversions. Completing the ferry mission will mark the transition from acceptance in France to operational preparation in Indonesia. The aircraft will then undergo local checks and integration steps before the Air Force begins operational trials, probably with the Air Squadron 12.
Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru has been selected as the first Rafale operating base, and its preparations were reviewed on November 26, 2025, by the Air Force Logistics Staff through a monitoring and evaluation activity. The assessment examined maintenance facilities, support equipment, infrastructure upgrades, and the logistics chain required for sustained Rafale operations. The focus was on verifying the readiness of hangars, fuel installations, munitions storage, and technical support elements. The evaluation team highlighted the need to identify constraints early to shape maintenance planning and ensure continuity of operations after the aircraft lands. Base leadership underscored that the visit provided essential inputs for long-term logistics and personnel allocation. These assessments form part of a phased approach to ensure that ground crews, facilities, and mission support systems are aligned with the aircraft’s arrival. Proper infrastructure readiness is crucial for acceptance, servicing, and mission generation once the Rafales are stationed at the base. The Air Force intends for the base to support both initial and subsequent batches.
Indonesia’s broader Rafale program consists of 42 aircraft ordered in several phases, beginning with six in 2022 and followed by two additional tranches of 18 aircraft in 2023 and 2024, forming a total package of 16 dual-seat and 26 single-seat jets. With all these batches combined, Indonesia’s Rafale deal is estimated at $8.1 billion, a program that includes training systems, simulators, logistics support, and technical facilities. Indonesia selected the Rafale F4 standard, which features improvements to the RBE2 AESA radar, the SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, the OSF infrared search and track, and targeting and reconnaissance pods. The F4 standard also integrates the MICA Next Generation missile, a 1,000-kilogram variant of the AASM precision-guided munition, and a helmet-mounted display for pilots. These Rafale F4s are intended to provide the Indonesian Air Force with a modern multirole capability that supports air defense, long-range missions, and interoperability with existing assets. By combining fighters from the United States, France, Russia, South Korea, Türkiye, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and China within a single Air Force, Indonesia now operates one of the broadest mixes of combat aircraft ever assembled by any nation.
The arrival of the first batch between February and March 2026, followed by a second batch in April 2026, will allow the Air Force to begin establishing initial operational capability as Roesmin Nurjadin completes infrastructure adjustments and personnel assignments. Training conducted in France, combined with the buildup of local maintenance capability, is expected to support the aircraft’s early service period. Over time, the Air Force will integrate Rafales into mission planning, networked operations, and regional exercises. Indonesia intends to use the fleet for air defense, air policing, and long-range missions. As deliveries progress and additional Rafales arrive, the Air Force will expand the use of simulators, technical training programs, and mission readiness evaluations.
Written by Jérôme Brahy
Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.
