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Indonesia - Rafale

The Rafale is a fighter jet that will strengthen the Indonesian Air Force to replace the F-5 Tiger which has been grounded since 2015. The Indonesian Air Force planned to buy the Sukhoi Su-35 as a replacement, but it never materialized. However, in the Prabowo era, the purchase of the fighter jets finally turned to France as a member of NATO.

The name Rafale itself had been rumored to be brought to Indonesia, in line with the retirement of the Indonesian Air Force's F-5E/F II Tiger fleet in 2015. In addition to the Rafale, the replacement candidates for the Indonesian Air Force's F-5E/F II include the F-16 Block 60 from the United States, the Su-35 from Russia, the Eurofighter Typhoon from the European consortium, and the Saab Gripen from Sweden. Dassault Rafale himself has visited Indonesia several times at the Halim Perdanakusuma air base, Jakarta, as in 2015. At that time, the French Air Force had demonstrated the capabilities of its fighter jets in the Halim sky.

Indonesia was interested in buying 48 Rafale fighter jets from France. This news was reported by the French news site, La Tribune on 17 January 2020. According to La Tribune, quoted by KompasTekno (21/1/2020), the Indonesian government's interest in the Rafale fighter jet was expressed by the Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto during a visit to France. According to an internal La Tribune source , this purchase will be realized in an agreement between the governments of France and Indonesia, which was expected to be reached in the near future.

However, Deputy Minister of Defense Sakti Wahyu Trenggono was reported by Antara emphasized that so far there has been no purchase of the main weapon system equipment (defense equipment) from outside countries, as reported. "Do we buy it from outside? Not yet," said Trenggono while observing the defense equipment exhibition at the Ministry of Defense Office (22/1/2020).

On 11 February 2021, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense welcomed representatives of Dassault Aviation at the Ministry office in Jakarta to discuss Indonesia’s plan to purchase Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft. There was no news whether the agreement was finalized yet. In November 2021, France and Indonesia strengthened a strategic partnership agreement during a two-day visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to the vast Southeast Asian archipelago.

The agreement was announced 10 February 2022 as Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto met his French counterpart Florence Parly in Jakarta. "We agreed on the purchase of 42 Rafale. The contract signed was for the first six, which will be followed by 36 others," said Subianto. It was the latest sign of warming ties between Jakarta and Paris, as France rethinks its alliances in the region following the collapse in September of a multibillion-dollar Australian submarine deal. Paris was left furious by the debacle, saying it had been given no warning that Canberra was negotiating a new defence pact with the United States and Britain.

"Our strategic partnership will benefit from the deepening of our defense ties. France is proud to contribute to the modernization of our partner's armed forces, which play a key role in ASEAN and in the Indo-Pacific," said Parly. According to Parly, eight countries have chosen the Rafale to ensure their protection. This is further evidence of the superiority of French industry and the operational efficiency of the Rafale fighter. "Indonesia is also cooperating with our industry in the submarine sector. In the Indo-Pacific, Indonesia is the second country to acquire the Rafale, after India," she said. Parly told reporters that Indonesia had chosen a warplane known for its "technical excellence", which had demonstrated its "operational capabilities on numerous occasions".

French President Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter to express his delight. "42 Rafale! Indonesia chooses French industrial excellence! The know-how of the more than 400 French companies and thousands of workers who design the Rafale is recognized."

The Rafale F4 model planes were still undergoing a development program worth €2 billion, which was set to be completed in 2024. They were to be delivered from 2027. The Dassault Aviation Rafale aircraft, which entered service in 2004, has proved popular in the international market despite competition from American and other European manufacturers. The United Arab Emirates signed the biggest ever order for the jets in December, with a deal to buy 80 for 14 billion euros.

On August 10, 2023, as part of the contract signed by Indonesia on February 2022 for the acquisition of 42 Rafale, the second tranche of 18 Rafale came into force. This followed the entry into force in September 2022 of the first tranche of 6 Rafale, bringing the total number of aircraft on order to 24. The acquisition of the latest-generation Rafale for the Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (Indonesian National Army Air Force) includes a complete "turnkey" solution as well as a substantial industrial return for the Indonesian aeronautical sector. Educational projects will also be launched as part of the technical training of aeronautical know-how.

The "omnirole" Rafale is a unique asset that will ensure Indonesia's sovereignty and operational independence and reinforce its role as a major regional power. "This new step consolidates the beginning of a long-term partnership with the Indonesian authorities, whom I would like to thank once again for their confidence. It testifies to the strategic link that unites Indonesia and France, and will be reflected in the growing presence of Dassault Aviation in the country", said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

On January 08, 2024 the final tranche of 18 Rafale for Indonesia came into force. It followed the entry into force, in September 2022 and August 2023, of the first and second tranches of 6 and 18 Rafale, thus completing the number of aircraft on order for Indonesia under the contract signed in February 2022 for the acquisition of 42 Rafale. “In choosing the Rafale, Indonesia has opted for a unique tool for sovereignty and operational independence that will help consolidate its role as a major regional power. This choice also consolidates ambitious industrial and academic cooperations. We are fully committed to making this partnership a success, with a resolutely long-term vision,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.