Indonesia Modernizes Air Force with French Rafale Fighter Jets Amid Strategic Defense Partnership

Indonesia has received its first three Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France, marking the start of deliveries under Jakarta’s long-running effort to modernize the Indonesian Air Force. The aircraft arrived on January 23, 2026, and are now stationed at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. According to AeroTime, this delivery represents a significant milestone in Indonesia’s Rafale program, which was initially agreed in 2022 under an approximately $8 billion deal that has since been expanded. The initial batch comprises three Rafale B twin-seat aircraft, photographed in Indonesian markings and identified as tail numbers T-0301, T-0302, and T-0303.