Indonesian Rafale Fighter Jets Have The Same Specification As French Air Force

Rafale fighter aircraft at the South Terminal of Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta, Wednesday (26/7/2023). ANTARA/Narda Margaretha Sinambela

JAKARTA - Head of the Information Service of the Indonesian Air Force (Kadispenau) Marsma R Agung Sasongkojati said the 4.5 generation fighter jets made by the Dassault Aviation purchased by Indonesia will have the same specifications as the French Air Force or France Air and Space Force (FASF).

"This is the plane we bought. The specifications are exactly the same, but we got a new one. If this is the plane that has been used by them," said Agung at the South Terminal of Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 26.

A number of aircraft belonging to the French air force landed at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in Jakarta after completing a long-range power projection mission in the Indo-Pacific zone (Misi Pegase 2023) on Monday (24/7). Based on ANTARA's monitoring, the Rafale fighter plane to the A330 MRTT aircraft was parked in South Apron, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

In the Pegase 2023 Mission, continued Agung, the French Air Force carried a total of six Rafale fighter aircraft, four Airbus A400M transport aircraft, and three A330 MRTT tankers. However, other aircraft will arrive in stages.

"So they came and left. When they left there were two more planes," he explained.

Meanwhile, Head of Pegase Detachment 23 Lieutenant Colonel Henri revealed that the Rafale exhibited at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport had been used by the French Air Force since 2006. He explained that in strengthening French defenses, his party often carried out operations and deployments of troops and projected military forces.

"Indonesia's territory is included in the main strategic goal," he added.

The Ministry of Defense previously signed a cooperation contract for the purchase of six French-made 4.5-Rafale fighter aircraft. The Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, said this after receiving an honorary visit from the Minister of the French Armed Forces, Florence Parly, at the Ministry of Defense Office, Jakarta, Thursday (10/2).

According to Prabowo, Indonesia will buy a significant defense system (alutsista) main tool for multirole combat aircraft by acquiring 42 units of Rafale.

"Starting today with the signature of the first contract for six aircraft," said Prabowo.

"Furthermore, it will be followed by another 36 aircraft contracts, with the support of weapons exercises and simulators needed," he added.

In addition to the purchase of aircraft, there was also the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Dassault Aviation and PT Dirgantara Indonesia, which agreed to maintain and repair French fighter aircraft in Indonesia.

Rafale merupakan pesawat tempur segala peran (multirio atau Prancis menyebut sebagai omnirole) yang dioperasikan Prancis sejak 2004. Hingga 2018, Prancis memerperjakan sedikitnya 132 unit Rafale untuk AU dan 48 unit untuk Angkatan Prancis.

Several other countries are also interested in using the Rafale as their warplanes, including Egypt having 24 units, Qatar with 36 units, and India with 36 units.

The delta-winged fighter with forward canars also regularly participates in multinational exercises such as Red Flag, ATLC, Tiger Meet, Maple Flag, Arctic Challenge, Pitch Black, and Bold Quest.

With a wingspan of 10.9 meters, 15.3 meters long and 5.3 meters high, Rafale uses an M88-coded turbofan double engine, which is claimed to be able to penetrate a maximum speed of 1,389 km per hour with an operating altitude of 50,000 feet.