France and Indonesia have signed a defense agreement that could lead to new Indonesian orders of French military equipment, including Rafale fighter jets and Scorpène submarines, French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, where he is currently on a state visit, Macron said that he was “delighted” to have signed a letter of intent that “could open up a new perspective with new orders for Rafales, Scorpenes, light frigates,” Reuters reported.
In turn, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto described France as “one of Indonesia’s main partners in modernizing defense equipment” and that the two nations’ defense ties reflected “a joint commitment to maintaining regional stability.”
Macron’s stop in Jakarta, which came as part of a regional tour, has already taken him to Vietnam and will also involve a stop in Singapore. Unlike the visit to Hanoi, which yielded a series of economic agreements including a $7.9 billion sale of Airbus aircraft, his stop in Jakarta also focused on defense cooperation.
Today, prior to Macron’s departure for Singapore, he and Prabowo were scheduled to visit the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, a reflection of recent efforts to increase joint training and capacity-building for Indonesian troops. The French president also invited Prabowo to Paris as an honorary guest for Bastille Day celebrations on July 14.
Referencing recent military engagements, including the deployment of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to Bali and West Nusa Tenggara in January, Macron said that Indonesia’s military purchases, along with the joint drills between the two nations, underscored “an ever-increasing closeness between the soldiers of our armed forces.”
Indonesia is currently the top purchaser of French military equipment in Southeast Asia and among the top in Asia, alongside India. Jakarta has an outstanding order for 42 new Rafale jet fighters from the French defense manufacturer Dassault, a total purchase estimated at $8 billion. The first batch of six jets, which was announced in February 2022, was subsequently expanded twice, later in 2022 and then in 2023. The Rafales are set to refresh the Indonesian Air Force’s ageing air fleet, which currently includes a mix of U.S.-made F-16 and Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 jets. The first of the aircraft is due for delivery in January 2026.
Similarly, in 2023, Indonesia announced the purchase of 13 long-range air surveillance radars from France’s Thales Group. The following year, it struck an agreement with the French contractor Naval Group to buy two Scorpène submarines, which will be built domestically in cooperation with Indonesia’s state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL. Prabowo was the defense minister when all of these deals were signed.
Based on comments by Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin late Tuesday, the letter of intent refers to these existing orders. However, Macron’s comments suggest that other future Indonesian purchases may be in the offing. Otherwise, Sjafrie said the letter of intent would strengthen Indonesia-France defense ties, “particularly in strategic weapons systems.”
Also, during Macron’s visit, the two sides signed a host of other agreements. According to a Reuters report, these included one on cooperation between French mining company Eramet and Indonesian sovereign wealth funds Danantara and Indonesia Investment Authority. The agreement aims to “explore the establishment of a strategic investment platform in the nickel sector, spanning upstream to downstream operations,” the three entities said in a joint statement quoted by the news agency.