Indonesia has officially received its first three Rafale fighter jets from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation during an acceptance ceremony held at the company's production facility in Merignac, Bordeaux, France on November 28, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Indonesian Air Force's modernization program.
Air Vice Marshal Tedi Rizalihadi, representing Indonesian Air Force Chief Marshal M. Tonny Harjono, expressed appreciation for the defense cooperation between Indonesia and France, emphasizing that the ceremony represents an important step in enhancing Indonesia's air power capabilities through quality aircraft supported by Dassault Aviation, Safran, and Thales.
The three aircraft delivered are dual-seater variants designated T-0301, T-0302, and T-0303, which will be flown directly from France to Indonesia in January 2026 following comprehensive technical briefings, physical inspections, airworthiness document reviews, and discussions regarding operational readiness, maintenance, logistics, and sustainment systems.
The Indonesian delegation included senior Air Force officials, the Defense Attaché to France, representatives from the Ministry of Defense, and acceptance and pre-shipment teams, demonstrating the government's commitment to ensuring aircraft quality and safety before deployment to Indonesia.
Senior executives from Dassault Aviation, including Senior Vice President of Military Export Contracts Frédéric Baup, along with representatives from Safran and Thales who provide engines, avionics, sensors, and critical components, attended the ceremony while the Indonesian delegation also met with Air Force personnel currently undergoing pilot and maintenance training at the facility.
