January 27, 2026 | 09:00 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Three Rafale fighter jets have arrived in Indonesia and are now stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, Pekanbaru. The French-made fighter jets are considered part of the strengthening of the national air defense system.
Head of the Land Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense's Secretariat General, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, stated that the three aircraft are part of the first phase, or Batch-1, of the 42 Rafale aircraft ordered by the Indonesian government.
"Administratively and technically, the handover process has been completed," Rico said on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
According to him, subsequent deliveries will be carried out in stages according to the contract and the technical readiness of both parties. The official acceptance ceremony for the fighter jets will be held at a later date, depending on the agenda of the national leadership. "Currently, the Rafales are stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base according to operational needs," he said.
The arrival of the Rafale adds to the Indonesian Air Force's fighter aircraft fleet, which already includes the T-80, Hawk 100/200, Sukhoi Su-30, and F-16. The Indonesian Air Force is also scheduled to receive a second batch of three Rafale fighters in April 2026, before deliveries continue until the total of 42 aircraft is complete.
The Ministry of Defense has reportedly purchased 42 Rafale fighter jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation France after the third phase of the purchase contract for the final 18 aircraft became effective.
The Head of the Information and Defense Bureau of the Ministry of Defense's General Secretariat, Brigadier General Edwin Adrian Sumantha, stated that this effective contract served as the basis for Dassault Aviation to begin production of the final 18 Rafale fighter jets ordered by Indonesia.
"The Indonesian Ministry of Defense previously entered into a first-phase procurement contract with Dassault Aviation in September 2022 for six units and in August 2023 for 18 units. The total procurement of Rafale fighter jets by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense is 42 units," said Edwin.
The purchase of Rafale fighter jets is one of five new defense collaborations agreed between the Minister of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, Florence Parly, and Prabowo, who was then Minister of Defense, on Thursday, February 10, 2022.
Read: Indonesia Set to Receive First 3 Rafale Fighter Jets Early 2026
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
The First Rafale Will Be Operated by the Indonesian Air Force's 12th Air Squadron
44 menit lalu
The shipment of the French-made Rafale fighter jets is part of the Batch-1 of the total 42 Rafale units ordered by Indonesia.
Indonesia Set to Receive First 3 Rafale Fighter Jets Early 2026
13 September 2025
The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has secured a total of 42 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation in France
Two French Fighter Jets Crash Mid-Air During Training, Resembling Rafale Incident
28 Maret 2025
A group of French fighter jets maneuvered and emitted smoke before two of them collided
Prabowo Meets France's Macron in Brazil
20 November 2024
France's President Emmanuel Macron and Prabowo met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit to explore the opportunities to enhance economic cooperation.
Indonesia Air Force Expands Fleet With Used Foreign Fighter Jets
8 Maret 2023
Indonesia's military air force fleet will continue to be expanded after Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto hinted at acquiring foreign fighter jets.
Pindad, Safran Pursue Advancement of Smart Bomb for Rafale Jets
14 April 2022
Pindad, in partnership with Safran Electronics & Defense, plans to produce the MK-82 highly-agile modular munition extended range (HAMMER).
Prabowo, Macron Meet in Paris to Follow Up Rafale Jets Deal
16 Maret 2022
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris to follow up bilateral arms deal.
Minister Prabowo Meets with French President Emmanuel Macron
16 Maret 2022
Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elyse Palace in Paris, Tuesday, March 15.
Indonesia Purchases 42 Rafale Fighter Jets from France
10 Februari 2022
Indonesian Defense Ministry ratified an agreement to purchase 42 Rafale fighter jets from French aviation firm Dassault Aviation.
:strip_icc():format(jpeg):watermark(kly-media-production/assets/images/watermarks/bola/watermark-color-landscape-new.png,1125,20,0)/kly-media-production/medias/5343503/original/009674500_1757434237-20250909AA_Timnas_Indonesia_U-23Vs_Korea_Selatan-03.JPG)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/5118338/original/096777400_1738505541-20250202BL_Kedatangan_Patrick_Kluivert_dalam_Laga_Persija_Vs_PSBS_7.JPG)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/5390165/original/033586000_1761235850-Persib_Bandung_1.jpeg)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/5385175/original/090228500_1760881526-Bali_United.jpeg)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/5267951/original/037003100_1751185942-souza.jpg)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/5321271/original/035046300_1755668869-ong.jpg)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg):watermark(kly-media-production/assets/images/watermarks/bola/watermark-color-landscape-new.png,1125,20,0)/kly-media-production/medias/5233597/original/013085700_1748319472-IMG_9065.JPG)
:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/4605399/original/051919700_1696925599-Timnas_Indonesia_-_Arkhan_Fikri_dan_Hokky_Caraka_copy.jpg)
