Indonesia's first Rafale-B fighter jet, bearing serial number T-0301, has officially rolled out from Dassault Aviation's manufacturing facility in Bordeaux on July 30, 2025, marking a historic milestone in Jakarta's multi-billion-dollar air power modernization program.
The twin-seat fighter represents the beginning of a massive 66-aircraft fleet expansion that will transform Indonesia into the largest non-European operator of French Rafale F4s and establish one of the most capable air forces in the Indo-Pacific region.
Dassault Aviation confirmed that seven Rafale jets were manufactured in the first half of 2025, with the first delivery to Indonesia expected in early 2026 as part of the initial 24-aircraft procurement phase signed under the landmark defense deal with France.
The comprehensive defense package, valued at an estimated USD 8.5 billion including weapons, spares, and training, builds upon the February 2022 contract for 42 Rafales and includes an additional 24 jets that Jakarta secured through expanded defense ties with France.
According to defense analysts, this strategic acquisition will enable Indonesia to replace its aging fragmented fleet of F-16s and Su-27/30s with integrated, high-tech Rafale F4 variants equipped with AESA radar, Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles, and advanced electronic warfare suites capable of deterring threats across the archipelago's vast maritime expanse.
