President Prabowo Officially Handing Over Rafale Fighter Jets to the Indonesian Air Force

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto symbolically handed over the keys to the MRCA Rafale aircraft, the Falcon 8X aircraft, the A-400M aircraft, the GCI GM403 Radar, the Smart Weapon Hammer, and the Meteor Missile to the TNI Commander General TNI Agus Subiyanto at Halim Perdanakusuma Airfield, Jakarta, Monday, May 18.

The aircraft delivered consists of six Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft, four Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft, and one Airbus A400M Atlas MRT aircraft.

Based on a report by Antara reporters, Monday morning at the location, the aircraft key was then handed over by the TNI Commander to the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (KSAU) Marshal TNI Mohamad Tonny Harjono.

Before handing over the keys to the aircraft, President Prabowo carried out a procession to open the curtain of the emblem of Squadron 12 which was attached to the fuselage.

The President also carried out a water sprinkling ceremony at the nose of the plane and broke a jar containing water fireworks.

The Head of State then inspected the aircraft with Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto, and KSAU Mohamad Tonny Harjono.

During the activity, the Head of State was also accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Indonesia is listed as one of the buyers of the Rafale fighter aircraft produced by France.

It is recorded that the Ministry of Defense has purchased as many as 42 Rafale fighter jets made by Dassault Aviation of France after the third phase of the purchase contract for the last 18 units was effective.

With the Rafale fighter aircraft, the Indonesian Air Force will be stronger in guarding the Indonesian airspace.