"Three Rafale fighter jets have arrived in Indonesia and are currently at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru. Administratively and technically, the aircraft have been handed over and are ready for use by the Indonesian Air Force," Rico said when confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday
The arrival of the three fighter jets is the first wave of a total of 42 Rafales that Indonesia has ordered.
However, Rico did not explain in detail when exactly the second and third wave of planes would arrive.
With the Rafale fighter jets, he ensured that the Indonesian Air Force would be even stronger in guarding Indonesian airspace.
Previously, Indonesia was listed as one of the customers of the Rafale fighter jet produced by France.
The Ministry of Defense has reportedly purchased 42 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation France after the third phase of the purchase contract for the last 18 units came into effect.
The Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense, who was then held by Brigadier General TNI Edwin Adrian Sumantha, said that the effective contract was the basis for Dassault Aviation to start producing the last 18 units of Rafale fighter jets ordered by Indonesia.
