Breaking News: Indonesia to Strengthen Air Force with Possible Purchase of 24 More French Rafale Fighter Jets
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According to information published by French Newspaper La Tribune on July 4, 2025, Indonesia is set to finalize a major defense contract with France for the acquisition of 24 Rafale multirole fighter jets during President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Paris, where he will be the guest of honor at France’s national Bastille Day celebrations on July 14. Initially, a purchase of 12 aircraft was announced during bilateral meetings in May 2025, but this has now been upgraded to 24 jets as negotiations advanced. This expanded agreement underscores Jakarta’s urgency to strengthen its air force and deepen strategic defense ties with France amid rising regional tensions.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A French Air and Space Force Rafale C, assigned to Mont-de-Marsan, Fighter Squadron 2/30, Normandie-Niémen, prepares for landing during exercise Atlantic Trident 25 at Pirkkala Air Base, Finland, June 19, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
This upcoming order builds upon a foundational agreement signed in February 2022, in which Indonesia committed to purchasing 42 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation. That contract was structured into three acquisition tranches of 6, 18, and 18 aircraft, which were formally activated in February 2022, August 2023, and January 2024. Deliveries of the first aircraft from the initial batch are scheduled to begin in early 2026. With the latest agreement, Indonesia will bring its total Rafale fleet to 66 aircraft, making it one of the largest non-European operators of the French fighter and a top client for Dassault in Southeast Asia.
The Rafale, a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation, is designed for a full spectrum of air operations including air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence. Indonesia is acquiring the advanced Rafale F4 variant, which features enhanced radar and electronic warfare systems, improved sensor fusion, network-centric capabilities, and compatibility with next-generation guided weapons. This configuration will significantly expand the Indonesian Air Force’s operational effectiveness and mission flexibility in contested environments.
Indonesia’s current combat aviation fleet reflects a mix of Western and Russian platforms, making standardization and maintenance increasingly difficult. The Air Force operates a total of four aircraft categorized under the FTR (Fighter) role: one F-16A, one F-16B, and two Su-27SK Flankers. For ground attack and multirole missions, it maintains 45 aircraft in the FGA (Fighter Ground Attack) category, including six F-16AMs, two F-16BMs, eighteen F-16C Block 25/32+, five F-16D Block 25/32+, three Su-27SKMs, and eleven Su-30MK2 Flanker Gs. The integration of 66 Rafales will not only resolve operational fragmentation but will also bring the fleet in line with current generation standards in air combat and deterrence.
Beyond fighter aircraft, France and Indonesia have been steadily expanding their military cooperation. Jakarta has expressed serious interest in acquiring two French-built Scorpène-class submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion systems and several CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers. These deals include industrial participation and technology transfer components, aligning with Indonesia’s national strategy to boost its domestic defense production and reduce foreign dependency.
President Prabowo Subianto’s attendance at the Bastille Day parade is a symbolic moment that reflects the increasing geopolitical synergy between Paris and Jakarta. France views Indonesia as a key partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy, and Indonesia sees France as a reliable source of advanced military technology. The Rafale acquisition reinforces this relationship and demonstrates both countries’ commitment to a stable and secure regional security order.
Indonesia’s decision to increase its Rafale fighter jet order to 66 aircraft reflects a calculated and strategic move to reinforce its national defense in an increasingly complex regional environment. As the world’s largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia must protect vast maritime and airspace territories that span vital sea lanes, including the strategically critical Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. Rising geopolitical tensions, assertive territorial claims by neighboring powers, and an uptick in gray zone activities have made airpower an indispensable pillar of Jakarta’s defense strategy. A modern and capable air force equipped with advanced platforms like the Rafale enhances Indonesia’s deterrence posture, improves rapid response capabilities, and ensures sovereignty over its airspace.The Rafale’s multirole capabilities also allow Indonesia to project power, conduct joint operations, and support humanitarian and disaster relief missions. With the procurement of additional Rafales, Indonesia is not only closing the technological gap with regional air forces but also asserting its position as a self-reliant and strategically autonomous actor in the Indo-Pacific.
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According to information published by French Newspaper La Tribune on July 4, 2025, Indonesia is set to finalize a major defense contract with France for the acquisition of 24 Rafale multirole fighter jets during President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to Paris, where he will be the guest of honor at France’s national Bastille Day celebrations on July 14. Initially, a purchase of 12 aircraft was announced during bilateral meetings in May 2025, but this has now been upgraded to 24 jets as negotiations advanced. This expanded agreement underscores Jakarta’s urgency to strengthen its air force and deepen strategic defense ties with France amid rising regional tensions.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
A French Air and Space Force Rafale C, assigned to Mont-de-Marsan, Fighter Squadron 2/30, Normandie-Niémen, prepares for landing during exercise Atlantic Trident 25 at Pirkkala Air Base, Finland, June 19, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
This upcoming order builds upon a foundational agreement signed in February 2022, in which Indonesia committed to purchasing 42 Rafale aircraft from Dassault Aviation. That contract was structured into three acquisition tranches of 6, 18, and 18 aircraft, which were formally activated in February 2022, August 2023, and January 2024. Deliveries of the first aircraft from the initial batch are scheduled to begin in early 2026. With the latest agreement, Indonesia will bring its total Rafale fleet to 66 aircraft, making it one of the largest non-European operators of the French fighter and a top client for Dassault in Southeast Asia.
The Rafale, a twin-engine multirole combat aircraft developed by Dassault Aviation, is designed for a full spectrum of air operations including air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and nuclear deterrence. Indonesia is acquiring the advanced Rafale F4 variant, which features enhanced radar and electronic warfare systems, improved sensor fusion, network-centric capabilities, and compatibility with next-generation guided weapons. This configuration will significantly expand the Indonesian Air Force’s operational effectiveness and mission flexibility in contested environments.
Indonesia’s current combat aviation fleet reflects a mix of Western and Russian platforms, making standardization and maintenance increasingly difficult. The Air Force operates a total of four aircraft categorized under the FTR (Fighter) role: one F-16A, one F-16B, and two Su-27SK Flankers. For ground attack and multirole missions, it maintains 45 aircraft in the FGA (Fighter Ground Attack) category, including six F-16AMs, two F-16BMs, eighteen F-16C Block 25/32+, five F-16D Block 25/32+, three Su-27SKMs, and eleven Su-30MK2 Flanker Gs. The integration of 66 Rafales will not only resolve operational fragmentation but will also bring the fleet in line with current generation standards in air combat and deterrence.
Beyond fighter aircraft, France and Indonesia have been steadily expanding their military cooperation. Jakarta has expressed serious interest in acquiring two French-built Scorpène-class submarines equipped with air-independent propulsion systems and several CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers. These deals include industrial participation and technology transfer components, aligning with Indonesia’s national strategy to boost its domestic defense production and reduce foreign dependency.
President Prabowo Subianto’s attendance at the Bastille Day parade is a symbolic moment that reflects the increasing geopolitical synergy between Paris and Jakarta. France views Indonesia as a key partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy, and Indonesia sees France as a reliable source of advanced military technology. The Rafale acquisition reinforces this relationship and demonstrates both countries’ commitment to a stable and secure regional security order.
Indonesia’s decision to increase its Rafale fighter jet order to 66 aircraft reflects a calculated and strategic move to reinforce its national defense in an increasingly complex regional environment. As the world’s largest archipelagic nation, Indonesia must protect vast maritime and airspace territories that span vital sea lanes, including the strategically critical Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. Rising geopolitical tensions, assertive territorial claims by neighboring powers, and an uptick in gray zone activities have made airpower an indispensable pillar of Jakarta’s defense strategy. A modern and capable air force equipped with advanced platforms like the Rafale enhances Indonesia’s deterrence posture, improves rapid response capabilities, and ensures sovereignty over its airspace.
The Rafale’s multirole capabilities also allow Indonesia to project power, conduct joint operations, and support humanitarian and disaster relief missions. With the procurement of additional Rafales, Indonesia is not only closing the technological gap with regional air forces but also asserting its position as a self-reliant and strategically autonomous actor in the Indo-Pacific.
