Indonesia Shows Off Latest Capabilities

INDONESIA showed off its most recent arrival of key military assets in a handover ceremony at the Indonesian Air Force’s (TNI-AU) Perdanakusuma base in Jakarta attended by president Prabowo Subianto alongside defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) chief General Agus Subiyanto, and TNI-AU chief Air Chief Marshal Tonny Harjono.

The ceremony was held for the receipt of six Rafale fighter jets and four more Falcon 8X jets from Dassault Aviation, one Airbus A400M airlifter, one Ground Master GM403 long-range surveillance radar from Thales and several types of ordnance including AASM Hammer air-to-surface missiles (ASM) from Safran and Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) from MBDA.

“We have no other interest than to safeguard our own territory. We see the world’s geopolitical conditions as full of uncertainty and we know that defence is a primary requirement for stability. In the future, we will continue to build our strength. We want to secure our airspace, seas, and of course, our land,” president Prabowo said.

Indonesia had previously inducted its first three Rafale fighters this January, part of a total 42 aircraft deal with France’s Dassault Aviation inked in 2022. The French-made 4.5th generation jet adds to the TNI-AU’s diverse fleet of combat aircraft which includes South Korean Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50 trainers, British BAE Hawk 100/200s, Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30s, as well as American Lockheed Martin F-16s. Media reports also said that Indonesia could possibly be interested in purchasing another 24 Rafales comprising 30 single-seat and 12 twin-seater variants.

Dassault’s Falcon 8X jets will also be used to transport the country’s top leadership and visiting heads of state. Before the end of March, Airbus Defence and Space handed over the country’s second and final A400M airlifter, completing the contract to modernise the TNI-AU’s transport capabilities. Airbus delivered the first A400M last November, making this unit the last of two A400M aircraft ordered by Indonesia in 2021 unless Indonesia exercises its option for potentially four more units.–shp/adj/dl (Pix:ID MINDEF, SKN)