Ministry Of Defense Signs Contract To Purchase 6 Dassault Rafale Fighter Aircraft

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Defense (Kemhan) signed a cooperation contract to purchase six 4.5-generation fighter aircraft, Dassault Rafale, made in France.

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said this after receiving an honorary visit from the Minister of the Armed Forces of the French Republic Florence Parly at the Ministry of Defense office, Jakarta.

According to Prabowo, Indonesia is planning a significant purchase of defense equipment for "multirole combat aircraft" by acquiring 42 Rafale aircraft.

"We start today by signing the first contract for 6 aircraft," Prabowo said as quoted by Antara, Thursday, February 11.

Later this contract will be followed up in the near future by a contract for 36 more aircraft with the support of weapons training and the necessary simulators.

Not only that, after the bilateral meeting, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and the Minister of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, Florence Parly, witnessed the signing of the MoU on cooperation in the field of submarine research and development between PT PAL and the Naval Group.

"Surely it will lead to the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines with AIP along with the weapons and spare parts needed, including training," Prabowo said.

In addition, the cooperation between Dassault and PT DI for the "maintenance", "repair", and "overhaul" of French aircraft in Indonesia, such as the Rafale, Caracal Helicopters, and others, including the MoU on cooperation in the telecommunications sector between PT LEN and Thales Group and cooperation in the manufacture of large-caliber ammunition between PT Pindad and Nexter Munition.

"The cooperation between PT Pindad is for 'manufacturing' ammunition for land weapons and large-caliber ammunition," Prabowo said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, Florence Parly, welcomed the signing of various MoUs and contracts for the procurement of Rafale fighter aircraft by Indonesia.

"We are very happy that Indonesia chose France as a partner in the defense equipment modernization program, especially for fighter aircraft. I believe Indonesian companies can establish partnerships to support other TNI defense equipment modernization programs in order to develop Indonesia's national strategic industry," said Parly.

According to him, Indonesia's choice to procure the Rafale fighter aircraft is a choice of sovereignty and technical excellence because the Rafale has provided operational capacity on many occasions and is still carrying out missions in a number of very challenging terrains.

"This choice shows Indonesia's trust in France as proof that our strategic partnership is very strong and dynamic," he said.

Parly added that the signing of this contract is an important stage in the procurement process for Indonesian defense equipment.

"The contract will be activated as soon as possible to launch the production process so that Indonesia can utilize the Rafale aircraft in the near future," said Parly.