Indonesia Receives New Equipment Including "Rafale" Fighter Jets

According to a report by Reference News Network on May 21, Agence France-Presse reported on May 18 that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated on the 18th that the country will continue to enhance its defense capabilities. While showcasing new military equipment, including six French-made Rafale fighter jets, to the Air Force, he noted that the current situation is full of uncertainties.

Prabowo told reporters at an Air Force base in Jakarta that Indonesia, a Southeast Asian country that follows a non-aligned foreign policy, must "continue to enhance its national defense capabilities to form a deterrent force."

A statement released by the presidential office stated that Prabowo inspected the defense equipment recently procured by the Indonesian military, which includes four Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft and one Airbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft.

In 2022, under the leadership of then-Defense Minister Prabowo, Indonesia signed an $8.1 billion agreement to purchase 42 French Rafale fighter jets. A spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Defense told reporters that as of now, six fighter jets have been delivered, with three delivered in January and the other three completed on May 18. (Translated by Qing Songzhu)