Indonesia eyes more Rafale jets in new defense deal with France
During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Indonesia on May 28, 2025, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu signed a letter of intent with his Indonesian counterpart, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, to supply the Indonesian military with a wide array of French defense equipment.
Additional Rafale order in the works
L’Indonésie confirme sa confiance dans l’excellence de l’industrie de défense française !À l’occasion de la visite d’État d’@EmmanuelMacron, signature avec mon homologue d’une lettre d’intention portant sur l’acquisition future : de Rafale supplémentaires à @Dassault_OnAir… pic.twitter.com/fkL8KsBbPR— Sébastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) May 28, 2025
The prospective order includes Rafale multirole fighter jets from Dassault Aviation. Although the number of aircraft has not been officially disclosed, La Tribune reported that Jakarta is considering a purchase of between 8 and 16 Rafales. In April 2023, rumors surfaced that Indonesia had secured funding for an additional 18 Rafales, along with air-to-air weaponry.
While the letter of intent does not constitute a formal purchase, both sides are reportedly aiming to finalize the deal during France’s Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2025, where Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been invited as the guest of honor.
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A strategic shift away from Russia and the US
This agreement follows a broader Indonesian pivot away from traditional suppliers such as Russia and the United States. The Tentara Nasional Indonesia – Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU, Indonesian Air Force) currently operates a mixed fleet that includes approximately 50 F-16A/B and C/D fighters, as well as around 10 Su-27SKM and Su-30 jets from Russia.
In 2018, Indonesia initiated a deal to acquire 11 Russian Su-35 Flanker-E fighters, but negotiations ultimately collapsed over financing issues and potential geopolitical friction with Washington, a key economic partner. That failure catalyzed Jakarta’s strategic shift toward France as a “third-way” defense supplier, aligning with its goal of maintaining a neutral position in the growing Sino-American rivalry across Southeast Asia.
However, Indonesia’s professed position of neutrality took a nuanced turn on August 21, 2023, when Boeing announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jakarta for the potential acquisition of up to 24 F-15EX fighter jets. According to The Jakarta Post, the agreement remains pending approval from the Indonesian Ministry of Finance.
Expanding Franco-Indonesian defense ties
A Falcon 7X destined for the Indonesian Air Force (Credit: Johnny Janssen / Wikimedia Commons)
France and Indonesia have already laid the groundwork for closer defense ties. In 2022, Jakarta placed an order for 42 Rafale fighters, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. An initial contract for six aircraft was signed in September 2022. In November that year, the Indonesian Ministry of Finance approved plans to secure up to $3.9 billion in foreign loans to fund future aircraft acquisitions.
Beyond fighter jets, Indonesia has expanded its cooperation with France across multiple aerospace domains. In 2021, it ordered two Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, which are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025. Its VIP transport fleet was also upgraded in early 2023 with the addition of Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X business jets to the 17th Air Squadron.
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During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Indonesia on May 28, 2025, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu…
The post Indonesia eyes more Rafale jets in new defense deal with France appeared first on AeroTime.
