TNI AU: Rafale Pilots Train in France
Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) pilots destined to operate the Dassault Aviation-made Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) Rafale have been undergoing training in France since 2025, with instruction continuing domestically to prepare the next generation of pilots for the 4.5-generation fighter jet.
TNI AU Public Affairs Chief Air Marshal I Nyoman Suadnyana stated the Air Force is accelerating its modernisation, as new defence equipment demands heightened professionalism, making human resource quality enhancement one of five priority programmes.
Suadnyana added that pilots, technicians, and crew for the MRCA Rafale, Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft, and Falcon 8X have completed phased training according to each aircraft’s operational standards. The assets were recently handed over by President Prabowo Subianto to the military as part of its defence fleet expansion.
‘Pilots assigned to the MRCA Rafale began training in France in 2025. Current instruction is now conducted domestically at Wing 3.1, Group 3 Combat, based at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, Riau,’ Suadnyana told Tempo on 30 May 2026.
Wing 3.1 Combat is a technical unit responsible for squadron aircrew operational readiness under the Air Force Operations Command’s Group 3 Combat.
Trained Rafale, Airbus A400M, and Falcon 8X pilots will also serve as instructors for future TNI AU personnel. ‘This ensures optimal operation of defence equipment within the Air Force,’ Suadnyana said.
The Dassault Rafale MRCA is a 4.5-generation fighter jet measuring 5.30 metres in height, 15.30 metres in length, with a 10.90-metre wingspan and a takeoff weight of up to 24.5 tonnes.
It boasts a combat radius of 1,850 km and ferry range of 3,700 km powered by two Snecma M88 engines, enabling speeds of 1.8 Mach (1,912 km/h) at high altitude and 1.1 Mach (1,390 km/h) at low altitude.
The aircraft features passive sensor systems such as the integrated Optronique Secteur Frontal (OSF) electro-optical system for airborne target detection and identification, alongside an Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) system for sensor data analysis.
Armament includes ASRAAM and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, Apache ground-attack missiles, Exocet/AM39 anti-ship missiles, HARM, ALARM, Maverick, AS30L, Penguin 3, Sidewinder, Harpoon, and MICA missiles.
President Prabowo Subianto delivered the new defence equipment, including six Rafale jets, four Falcon 8X aircraft, one Airbus A400M Atlas, GM403 Ground Control Intervention radar, and Hammer and Meteor missile systems, at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base on 18 May 2026. Indonesia had previously received two Falcon 8X jets and one Airbus A400M.