January 27, 2026 | 09:51 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that three units of Rafale fighter jets have arrived in Indonesia as the initial realization of the contract for the procurement of fighter jets with the French Government. These three aircraft are currently stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru.
Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, the Head of Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defense Secretariat General, stated that this shipment is part of Batch-1 of the 42 Rafale units ordered by Indonesia. "The aircraft are Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) and will be operated by the 12th Air Squadron of the Indonesian Air Force," Rico said on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
In addition to the three units that have arrived, the government plans for the gradual arrival of the remaining units in 2026. The deliveries will continue gradually until all 42 fighter jets are received by the Indonesian Air Force. "Currently, the Rafale jets are stationed at Lanud Roesmin Nurjadin according to operational needs," he added.
The arrival of Rafale adds to the fleet of Indonesian Air Force fighter jets, which previously consisted of T-80, Hawk 100/200, Sukhoi Su-30, and F-16. "The management and placement of defense equipment are based on strategic, operational, and security considerations, and are in accordance with the authority of the Indonesian Air Force," he explained.
The Ministry of Defense has secured a total of 42 Rafale fighter jets produced by France's Dassault Aviation, following the effective third-phase purchase contract for the remaining 18 units.
Brigadier General Edwin Adrian Sumantha, the Head of Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defense Secretariat General at the time, mentioned that the effective contract served as the basis for Dassault Aviation to commence the production of the final 18 Rafale fighter jets ordered by Indonesia.
'The Indonesian MoD previously finalized the first-phase procurement contract with Dassault Aviation in September 2022 for six units, and the second-phase in August 2023 for 18 units. In total, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense has procured 42 units of Rafale fighter jets,' Edwin said.
The procurement of the Rafale fighter jets is one of the five new defense collaborations agreed upon after a meeting between Prabowo Subianto, then-Minister of Defense, and Florence Parly, the Minister of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, in Jakarta on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Prabowo is now the president.
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Three French Rafale Fighter Jets Arrive in Indonesia
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Three Rafale fighter jets have arrived in Indonesia and are now stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, Pekanbaru.
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