Meeting At The Italian G20, President Jokowi And French President Are Getting More Intimate About Defense Equipment, Is The Purchase Of Rafale Fighter Jets Clear?

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto confirmed that the Indonesian and French governments agreed to strengthen cooperation in the defense and security sector, especially in the main weapon system or defense equipment sector.

The statement was made by Coordinating Minister Airlangga in a virtual press conference on the sidelines of the G20 Heads of State High-Level meeting in Italy.

"(President Jokowi's meeting) with the French president has already been conveyed regarding cooperation in the defense equipment sector," he said Sunday, October 31.

According to Airlangga, the two-state leaders also agreed to expand collaboration in the field of defense and security, not only for the procurement of weapons, but also for synergies in building independent production.

"(The cooperation will also include) joint production," he said.

As previously reported, the Indonesian government through the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto is reportedly interested in bringing in fighter jets from France, namely the Rafale.

In VOI's note, RI is also interested in including several other products in the purchase list. This was reported by the Asia Times, which was quoted last February. The plan is that the delivery of the fighter jets will last for the next three years.

The Rafale itself began to be operated by the French Navy in 2004. To date, Rafale fighter jets have had more than 30,000 flight hours and are used in combat zones in Middle Eastern countries.

Meanwhile, countries that have tasted the toughness of this French aircraft include Afghanistan, Mali, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, and India. If it is true that the government brought this aircraft, then Indonesia will be the only country in Southeast Asia that has the Rafale as a protector of the archipelago's skies.