Jakarta
Indonesia will continue expanding its defence capabilities in response to growing geopolitical uncertainty, President Prabowo Subianto said on Monday while officially handing over six Rafale fighter jets and several other military assets to the Indonesian Air Force.
The ceremony marked another major step in Indonesia’s military modernization program aimed at strengthening national security and regional deterrence capabilities.
The six Rafale fighter jets delivered to Indonesia are part of a larger agreement signed in 2022 with Dassault Aviation worth approximately $8.1 billion for a total of 42 aircraft. Indonesia received the first three Rafale jets in January this year, while the remaining three were formally introduced during Monday’s ceremony.
Speaking at the event, President Prabowo emphasized that Indonesia’s military expansion was intended solely for national defence and protection of territorial sovereignty. He described the arrival of the advanced fighter aircraft as a milestone in improving Indonesia’s defence readiness amid increasingly complex global and regional security conditions.
During the ceremony, Prabowo performed a traditional blessing ritual by spraying flowered water on the nose cone of one of the Rafale jets. The symbolic act is commonly practiced in Indonesia to mark good fortune and blessings when receiving new assets or beginning important projects.
In addition to the Rafale fighter jets, the Indonesian president also formally handed over several other pieces of military equipment acquired through agreements signed during his previous role as defence minister. These included four Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft, an Airbus A400M MRTT transport aircraft, a Thales GM403 Ground Control Intercept radar system, Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles and AASM Hammer precision-guided weapons.
Officials said the Dassault Falcon aircraft would primarily serve as military transport planes for the president, vice president and visiting heads of state. The Airbus A400M aircraft, meanwhile, is expected to strengthen Indonesia’s strategic airlift capabilities. The country had previously received its first Airbus A400M in November last year, making the latest delivery the second aircraft of its kind in the Indonesian fleet.
President Prabowo has previously stated that Indonesia plans to purchase four additional Airbus A400M aircraft in the future. The large transport planes are capable of carrying heavy equipment and humanitarian supplies, including excavators, food, clothing and medical aid, making them valuable for both military operations and disaster relief missions.
Indonesia has significantly increased defence spending in recent years as regional tensions and geopolitical competition continue to grow in the Indo-Pacific region. The government has focused on modernizing its armed forces through purchases of advanced aircraft, naval systems and missile technology from international defence manufacturers.