The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) is preparing to establish three separate air squadrons for the Rafale fighter jets it has procured from France, senior military officials said, as the first aircraft formally enter operational service.
The initial batch of three Rafale fighter jets landed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru on January 23, 2026. The delivery was confirmed by Brig. Gen. Rico Ricardo Sirait, head of the Defense Information Bureau at Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense.
Sirait said the aircraft had completed both administrative and technical acceptance procedures and were now considered operational.
“Not One, but Three Rafale Squadrons”
Details of the Rafale force structure were disclosed by Air Marshal Minggit Tribowo, commander of Indonesia’s National Air Operations Command (Koopsudnas).
Speaking to reporters following the fourth anniversary ceremony of Koopsudnas at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on January 28, Tribowo said: “In line with the planning and delivery schedule, we are preparing not just one Rafale squadron, but three.”
While Tribowo did not specify the final basing locations, Indonesian officials have previously indicated that one of the first units to operate the Rafale will be the 12th Air Squadron at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base.
That assessment was reinforced by Air Marshal Abdul Haris, commander of Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base, who said during a January 7, 2026 ceremony marking the retirement of Hawk 109/209 aircraft that the Rafales would join the 12th Air Wing.
Delivery Timeline and Contract Details
The three aircraft delivered to Indonesia—tail numbers T-0301, T-0302, and T-0303—were formally handed over by Dassault Aviation before flying to Southeast Asia.
The handover ceremony took place on November 28, 2025, at Dassault’s facilities in Bordeaux–Mérignac, France, with the aircraft accepted by Indonesian Air Force Deputy Commander Air Marshal Tedi Rizalihadi.
The delivery represents the first phase of a contract signed in February 2022 between Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense and Dassault Aviation for a total of 42 Rafale fighter jets.
Rafale Fighter Jet: Key Specifications
According to Air Force Technology data, the Rafale features a modern glass cockpit and a HOTAS (Hands On Throttle and Stick) control system.
Key specifications include:
- Wingspan: 10.9 meters
- Length: 15.3 meters
- Height: 5.3 meters
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 (approx. 750 knots)
- Service ceiling: 15.24 km
- Combat radius: 1,850 km
- Maximum ferry range: 3,700 km
With a maximum takeoff weight of 24.5 tons, the Rafale can carry approximately 4.7 tons of internal fuel and up to 6.7 tons of external fuel. The air force variant can carry more than 9 tons of ordnance across 14 hardpoints.
Weapons and Mission Capabilities
The Rafale is capable of deploying a wide range of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and anti-ship weapons, including:
- Air-to-air missiles: MICA, Sidewinder, ASRAAM, AMRAAM
- Air-to-ground missiles: Apache, AS30L, ALARM, HARM, Maverick
- Anti-ship missiles: Exocet/AM39, Penguin 3, Harpoon
For long-range precision strike missions, the aircraft can be equipped with the SCALP cruise missile, which has a range exceeding 300 kilometers.
The unit cost of a Rafale fighter jet is estimated at approximately $115 million, equivalent to around 1.63 trillion Indonesian rupiah.
