Indonesia Likely to Sign Contract for 24 Rafale F4 Fighters on July 14

Indonesia is expected to finalize a contract for 24 Rafale F4 multirole fighter jets during President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to France on July 14, coinciding with French national Bastille Day celebrations.

President Prabowo, who will be France’s guest of honor, is set to lead a 450-member military delegation for the parade on the Champs-Élysées. According to multiple reports, the agreement would mark an upgrade from a previously planned purchase of 12 Rafale fighters, expanding Indonesia’s total Rafale fleet to 66 aircraft.

The French newspaper La Tribune reported on July 4 that the deal could be signed in Paris, where discussions around other defense contracts—including submarines and artillery systems—are also expected to take place.

The acquisition builds on an initial agreement signed in February 2022 for 42 Rafales from Dassault Aviation. That deal was structured in three tranches—6, 18, and 18 aircraft—with deliveries set to begin in 2026.

With the new 24-jet order, Indonesia would become one of the largest non-European Rafale operators. The aircraft will be delivered in the F4 configuration, the latest variant featuring enhanced radar, electronic warfare capabilities, sensor fusion, and compatibility with newer guided weapons.

The expansion of Jakarta’s Rafale program comes amid regional tensions and follows recent defense talks between Indonesian and French leadership, including President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Jakarta in May.

Indonesia’s current fighter fleet includes a mix of Western and Russian platforms, such as F-16s and Su-30 Flankers, which have presented operational and maintenance challenges. Integrating Rafales is seen as a step toward standardizing air combat capabilities and reducing fleet fragmentation.

Beyond aircraft, Indonesia has also shown interest in acquiring French Scorpène-class submarines with air-independent propulsion and additional CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers. These contracts are expected to include industrial and technology transfer components to support Indonesia’s domestic defense industry.