Arab Defense website – August 11, 2025: Indonesia continues its steps towards having “Rafale” fighters with the start of production in France, while its cooperation with Turkey opens the door to a future deal to fight “Kaan” (Kaan)
The first “Rafale B” fighter for the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-UU) was monitored in the facilities of “Dasso Aviation” in the French city of Bordeaux, and the plane bears the TR-0301 serial number, on July 30, 2025, according to the website. Scramble.
This is the first of the 42 “Rafale” multi -task fighter, which Indonesia contracted with France under a series of agreements. It started with a contract to buy 24 aircraft, before Jakarta earlier this year the option to buy 18 additional aircraft. The first batch is scheduled to be delivered in early 2026, as production continues until about 2035.
“Dasso Air” confirmed that it produced seven “Rafale” aircraft in the first half of 2025 – three in favor of the French Air Force and four for export agents, including Indonesia.
Indonesian Dassault Rafale fighter jet finally “appeared”, together with the Air Force personnel who were carrying out Pilot Batch 1 training and technicians who would be responsible for this Maintenance of Gen 4.5 fighter jet made by Dassault Aviation.
: @_Tniau pic.twitter.com/65L3Asfd5V
— Random Warfare Worldwide (@RWWReborn) August 11, 2025
The deal, signed in February 2022, includes an integrated support package, where Indonesia will receive 30 unilateral “Rafale CF4” fighters and 12 fighter “Rafale B” fighters, in addition to aviation teams training programs, training centers equipped with simulations, and logistical support in a number of Indonesian air bases.
The decision of Indonesia to acquire “Rafale” came after abandoning the plans of buying Russian “Su-35” fighters in 2021, which led her to go towards Western fighters, including the French “Rafale” and the American “F-15EX”.
In parallel, IPTN has concluded a joint production agreement with “Turkish Air Industries” (Tai) to manufacture a “Qaan” fighter. The agreement was signed during the IDEF25 International Defense Exhibition in Istanbul, and paves the way for a possible deal to buy 48 fighters of this model if the negotiation is complete.
Jun 2025 also witnessed the first flight of an Indonesian Air Force pilot on board the South Korean fighter “KF-21”, referring to the renewal of Jakarta’s commitment to the joint “KF-21/IF-X” program after years of delay in payment of financial obligations. The move came after the amendment of the cooperation agreement to reduce the Indonesian financial share and restructure the partnership with the “Korean Air Industries”. Despite the recent controversy and the overlapping of fighter deals – including “Qen” and “Rafale” – Indonesia reaffirms its role in developing regional defense capabilities and enhancing the participation of its local industry in this field.
The article appeared to monitor the first “Rafale” fighter of the Indonesian Air Force in France first on the Arab Defense site.
