KSAU-Menhan Bahas Rencana Kedatangan Pesawat Tempur Rafale

JAKARTA - Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Marshal TNI Mohamad Tonny Harjono met with Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin to discuss the arrival of French Rafale fighter aircraft.

The discussion occurred when Tonny visited the Ministry of Defense (Kemhan) office on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (7/1).

The Ministry of Defense's order aircraft is planned to arrive in 2026 and be placed in Pekanbaru and Pontianak.

In addition, Tonny also discussed the pilot training program for the prospective Rafale pilot aircraft. The training program will involve instructors from France.

As reported by ANTARA, the KSAU also briefly inserted discussions about the deployment of squadrons and the use of infrastructure in the Eastern region to strengthen air defenses.

Previously, Indonesia was listed as one of the customers of the Rafale fighter aircraft produced by France.

It is noted that the Ministry of Defense has bought up 42 Rafale fighter jets made by France's Dassault Aviation after the third phase of the purchase contract for the last 18 units was effective.

The Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense, then Brigadier General TNI Edwin Adrian Sumantha, said that the effective contract became the basis for the Dassault Aviation to start producing the last 18 units of Indonesian-ordered Rafale fighter jets.

"The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has previously streamlined the contract for the procurement of the first phase of the procurement contract with the Dassault Aviation in September 2022 with six units, and in August 2023 with 18 units. In total, the procurement of Rafale fighter aircraft by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense is 42 units," said Edwin.

He said the first Rafale plane ordered by Indonesia was scheduled to arrive in Indonesia in early 2026.