The technicians have been deployed to ensure the availability of reliable human resources for maintaining the Rafale fighter jets purchased by Indonesia.
"We have sent them to France," the president director of PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Gita Amperiawan, said on Wednesday.
He informed that the collaboration with Rafale includes an offset arrangement. The arrangement includes activities ranging from the provision of technician training to the creation of computer basic training/CBT.
The CBT collaboration is intended to allow Indonesian Rafale operators to carry out basic training using computer technology.
The offset arrangement is expected to ensure Indonesia has a pool of trained personnel for operating and maintaining Rafale fighter jets.
Earlier, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono, informed that six Rafale fighter jets would strengthen the Air Force in 2026.
"Next year, around February or March, we will start receiving Rafale jets, three jets, and three months later with three more jets," he said during the Indonesian Air Force Leadership Meeting in early February 2025.
His party has made several arrangements to welcome the arrival of the fighter jets by preparing a headquarters or homebase for the six jets, namely at the Roesmin Nurjadin Indonesian Air Force Base, Pekanbaru, Riau.
"In Pekanbaru, we have built simulators, hangars that we call smart buildings, improvement in flight facilities, and also building logistics system. All preparations for facilities and infrastructure have been carried out in Pekanbaru," Harjono said.
He added that the Air Force has also selected personnel for the Rafale pilot candidate education program.
"The selection is based on various aspects, including their positions with our current aircraft," he informed.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense purchased 42 Rafale fighter jets made by Dassault Aviation France after the third phase purchase contract for the last 18 units became effective.
Brigadier General Edwin Adrian Sumantha, the head of the ministry's public relations bureau at the time, stated that the effective contract was the basis for Dassault Aviation to begin producing the last 18 units of Rafale fighter jets ordered by Indonesia.
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Translator: Walda Marison, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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