Indonesia Adds Order for 18 Rafale Fighter Jet
- Dispenau
Jakarta – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto continues to show his commitment to providing the best defense equipment for the Indonesian National Army.
On January 8, 2024, the procurement contract for the third phase of 18 Rafale fighter aircraft has officially taken effect.
Previously, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense had executed the first phase of procurement contracts with Dassault Aviation, a leading French aircraft manufacturer, in September 2022 for 6 units and August 2023 for 18 units. The total procurement of Rafale fighter aircraft by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense is 42 units.
VIVA Militer: Menhan RI Prabowo Subianto mengecek jet tempur Dassault Rafale
- Istimewa/Viva Militer
With the effectiveness of this third phase contract, Dassault Aviation as the manufacturer will immediately begin the manufacturing process of 18 additional units of 4.5 generation fighter aircraft to complete the total procurement of 42 aircraft for the Government of Indonesia.
Rafale is an advanced 4.5 generation fighter aircraft that has become one of the mainstay aircraft of NATO member countries.
Rafale falls into the omnirole aircraft category so it can perform various types of missions ranging from air superiority and air defense, close air support, deep attack, aerial reconnaissance, and anti-ship attacks.
Another advantage of the Rafale is its compatibility with a wide range of weapons such as the METEOR "Beyond Visual Range" (BVR) long-range missile and the MICA air-to-air long-range missile.
Various other types of weapons can also be mounted on Rafale fighters such as SCALP long-range missiles, AM39 EXOCET anti-ship missiles, laser-guided bombs, classic unguided bombs, and 30M791 30 mm internal cannons capable of spewing 2,500 rounds/minute.
The first Rafale aircraft will arrive in Indonesia in early 2026. The arrival of the Rafale fighter aircraft along with its supporting weapons and equipment in the coming years to significantly increase the strength and readiness of the Indonesian Air Force.
