Rafale Fighter Jet Pilots Are French-Trained, Says Indonesian Air Force

Indonesian Air Force pilots slated to operate Dassault Rafale fighters have begun training in France since 2025, with subsequent domestic regeneration training conducted at Air Wing 3.1 Combat, part of the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru, Riau. The program aims to build human resource capacity as newly acquired Rafale jets, along with Airbus A400M Atlas transports and Falcon 8X aircraft, require higher levels of proficiency. Indonesian officials say pilots, technicians, and crew have undergone extensive training to meet operational standards, with some Rafale crews poised to become instructors for the next generation of Indonesian pilots. The Rafale MRCA is a 4.5-generation fighter powered by two Snecma M88 engines, offering ranges of up to 1,850 kilometers and up to 1,912 km/h at altitude, with detailed sensor and avionics suites including the OSF electro-optical system and an integrated modular avionics system.