Prabowo hands over Rafale fighter jet keys to TNI Commander

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, symbolically handed over the keys to the Rafale MRCA fighter jets, Falcon 8X aircraft, A-400M aircraft, GCI GM403 Radar, Smart Weapon Hammer, and Meteor Missiles to the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), General Agus Subiyanto, at Halim Periscopic Airbase, Jakarta, on Monday.

The aircraft handed over include six Dassault Rafale fighter jets, four Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft, and one Airbus A400M Atlas MRT.

According to reports from the scene, the keys were subsequently handed from the TNI Commander to the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (KSAU), Air Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono.

Prior to the handover, President Prabowo performed a ceremonial unveiling of the Squadron 12 insignia attached to the aircraft’s fuselage. The President also participated in traditional ceremonies, including the sprinkling of flower water on the aircraft’s nose and the breaking of a water-filled clay pot.

The Head of State then inspected the aircraft alongside the Minister of Defence, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, the TNI Commander, Agus Subiyanto, and the KSAU, Mohamad Tonny Harjono.

During the event, the Head of State was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, the Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, and the Cabinet Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Indonesia is recorded as one of the purchasers of the French-made Rafale fighter jets. The Ministry of Defence has procured a total of 42 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation, following the activation of the third purchase phase for the final 18 units.

With the addition of the Rafale fighter jets, the Indonesian Air Force’s capability to defend Indonesian airspace will be further strengthened.