ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Dassault Aviation, a French fighter aircraft manufacturer, officially announced a definite effective contract for the three Rafale twin engine fighter aircraft from the Indonesian government on Tuesday local time, January 9 2024.
In an official press release received in Jakarta, from Dassaul Aviation’s production headquarters in Saint-Cloud, France, it was stated that the 18 firm orders in the effective contract were the final term of the contract to purchase 42 Rafale units.
The two effective contracts for the procurement of Rafales from Dassault Aviation were in September 2022 and August 2023, when 6 units and then 18 units of Rafales were ordered, and with this third effective contract, 42 Rafales have been ordered.
However, the press release did not mention the amount of funds that had been spent by the Indonesian government in each term of the effective contract; There was also no mention of when the first batch of Rafales arrived in Indonesia in the Indonesian Air Force paint pattern, complete with registration numbers.
Another thing that was not mentioned was about the 42nd Rafale’s weapons system, namely its flagship missile, MICA (Missile d’Interception, de Combat et d’Auto-defence) made by MBDA, France; and the simulator.
The MICA air-to-air missile in NATO’s arsenal is equivalent to the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) made by Raytheon, United States. AMRAAM is one of the most advanced air-to-air missiles currently.
“By choosing the Rafale, Indonesia has chosen a unique tool in upholding state sovereignty and freedom of operation that will help consolidate its role as a major power in the region. The choice (of the Rafale) also consolidates ambitious industrial and academic cooperation. We are very committed to realizing the partnership a successful company with a strong long-term vision,” said Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO, Eric Trappier, in the press statement.
Before the French Minister of Defense, Florence Parly, came to Jakarta on February 22 2022, it was always mentioned that the Indonesian Ministry of Defense was interested in acquiring the F-15 heavy twin-engine fighter aircraft made by Boeing, United States; but until now there has been no definite news about this.
Several years earlier, Indonesia was also the main partner country for the development of the KFX/IFX twin engine fighter aircraft made by Korea Aerospace Industries.
Confirmation of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense’s interest in acquiring the Rafale was marked by the visit of the French Minister of Defense, Florence Parly, to Jakarta on February 22 2022. At that time, it was widely said that Indonesia would buy 36 Rafale units.
At that time, Parly and a delegation from the French Ministry of Defense came and held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subiyanto. After the closed meeting between the two defense ministers, they immediately held a press conference.
That was where it was first officially stated by Prabowo that the number of Rafales ordered was 42 units, not 36 units as mentioned.
A memorandum of understanding between both parties was signed and an effective contract was signed later. With these three firm orders, the Indonesian Air Force will become the first country in ASEAN and the Asia Pacific — after India — to use the Rafale, a twin-engine fighter aircraft with delta wings and canards under a canopy.
Talking about delta-winged fighters, the Royal Thai Air Force (Kong Thap Akan Thai) has already used them, namely the JAS-39 Gripen C/D, made by Swedish SAAB.
France’s efforts to “seize” the fighter aircraft market began in 1986, during the 1986 Indonesia Air Show at Kemayoran Airport, Jakarta. At Indonesia’s first major aerospace exhibition, the Mirage 2000 from France and the F-16 A Block 15 from the United States Air Force’s display squadron, Thunderbirds, were present.
Three years later, the TNI AU’s first batch of F-16A/B Block 15OCU landings through the Peace Bima Sena I Project, made the TNI AU three users of F-16 Fighting Falcons made by (then General Dinamics) in ASEAN. (ANT)
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