After the “historic contract” of 80 Rafale in the United Arab Emirates signed at the end of 2021, Dassault starts 2022 by entering a new country – Indonesia –, which brings to eight the number of States, France included, using this fighter plane. The agreement, which concerns 42 aircraft, for a total amount of 8.1 billion euros, including armament (in particular air-to-air missiles from MBDA), was ratified on Thursday, February 10 in Jakarta, by Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Yusuf Jauhari, head of the acquisition agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, in the presence of the Minister for the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, and her Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto.
It provides a “turnkey” solution including crew training, logistical support and a training center comprising two mission simulators. The final contract linked to these Rafales to the F-3R standard, like those in service with the French forces, should be concluded in the coming months. It provides for a gradual entry into force, with a first delivery of six devices, the 36 others being from 2025. “Indonesia’s choice is one of sovereignty and technical excellence, with an aircraft that has demonstrated its operational capabilities on numerous occasions”underlined Mr.me Parley.
At the same time, Indonesia has expressed its intention to order two Scorpene submarines, conventional ships of 2,000 tons, with electric diesel propulsion. They would be manufactured on the PT PAL shipyards, with which Naval Group has established a strategic partnership. A way, there too, to concretize the cooperation agreement in the field of defense established between the two countries at the end of 2021.
Setback in Australia in the fall of 2021
These two announcements illustrate Paris’ desire to maintain its influence in the Asia-Pacific zone, despite the setback suffered in Australia in the fall of 2021, when the mega-submarine contract was terminated in favor of the United States, in the framework of the Aukus alliance associating Wahington, Canberra and London. Paris wants to consolidate its alliance with its historic partners, such as Japan and India, but also open it up to other Asian countries.
Discussions between Paris and Jakarta on the Rafale began at the end of 2020, in this country equipped with American F-16s and Russian Suhkoi (Su-27 and Su-30). In 2018, the Indonesians had wanted to acquire Su-35s, but Washington had strongly dissuaded them by brandishing the law “Countering America’s Adversaries Through sanctions” (Caatsa, “responding to adversaries of the United States through sanctions”), which targets the countries buying armaments from Russia. This had opened a way for the French to engage in discussions, because the sale of combat aircraft is above all political.
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