Four Indonesian Air Force Pilots Complete Solo Flights in Rafale

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Four Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) fighter pilots from the 12th Squadron at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base have successfully completed solo flights in Rafale fighter aircraft.

According to an official TNI AU press release received in Jakarta on Thursday, the four pilots made their solo flights on Monday (5 October). “This is the Rafale Solo Conversion Batch C flight,” said TNI AU Information Service chief First Marshal I Nyoman Suadnyana.

The pilots who completed the flights were Major M. Reza Sapta N., Major Fero Ahmando, Major M. Teguh Eko P., and Captain Ghazi Umar Marsuq.

Before flying solo, they completed several stages of training, including instruction in France and flight simulations in Indonesia.

Having completed their solo flights, the pilots are officially qualified to fly the Rafale fighter aircraft.

Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base commander Air Marshal Abdul Haris praised the four pilots and urged them to continue developing their combat capabilities to ensure they are ready to carry out air-defence duties.

“This success is expected to further strengthen the operational readiness of the 12th Air Squadron to operate modern defence equipment and support the Indonesian Air Force’s mission to safeguard national airspace sovereignty,” he said.