Indonesia signs 8.1 billion USD deal to buy 42 Rafale fighter jets from France
Indonesia had just confirmed and signed the 8.1 billion US dollar contract to buy 42, Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation SA. This is another big coup for Dassault after United Arab Emirates confirmed their purchase of 80 Rafales last December, following other earlier deals with Greece, Croatia and Egypt.
The order comes with aircrew training, logistical support for several air bases and a training center equipped with two full-mission simulators. 6 Rafales will be delivered within months, while the other 36 will be delivered later this year or next year.
The agreement will put Indonesia as the second biggest clientele in Southeast Asia after Singapore.
The fighter jet deal is one of the 4 agreements signed, with the other 3 agreements relates to the development of submarines (to result in an order of 2 Scorpene class vessels), satellite procurement and ammunition production.
“I hope that defence partnerships aren’t just focused on munition purchases, but also keeping in mind the development and joint production, technological transfer, and investment in defence industries,”
Indonesia President, Joko Widodo said in the statement regarding the agreements with France
This deal will mean that France’s commitment to deepen it’s ties in the Indo-Pacific region will continue to deepen, despite the setback of Australia’s breaking of agreement through the formation of AUKUS.