Indonesia buys 12 Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters from Qatar for nearly $800m, in addition to its F-16 and Su-27/30

The Indonesian Air Force will receive a dozen Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters. The planes will be purchased from Qatar.

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The French-made fourth-generation fighters will be stationed at Supadio Air Base in Pontanak on the west coast of the island of Kalimantan. The Indonesian Air Force's 1st squadron is stationed there and is armed with BAE Hawk 109 and Hawk 209 aircraft.

The deal amounted to $795.14 million. Excalibur International, a Czech company, will act as an intermediary. Indonesia will purchase nine single-seat and three twin-seat Mirage 2000-5EDA and Mirage 2000-5DDA fighters respectively from Qatar.

Under the terms of the agreement, the aircraft will be delivered within two years of signing the contract. The deal also entails delivery of 14 powerplants, three years of support, crew training and transfer of ground equipment.

Indonesia once wanted to buy Russian Su-35 fighter jets. However, after sanctions were imposed on Russia, the Asian country turned to France, and early last year ordered six of the potentially 42 Rafale jets. The first batch, consisting of three fighters, will be delivered in 2026.

The Indonesian Air Force now has two squadrons of F-16 Fighting Falcon and one squadron of Su27/30. At the same time Indonesian authorities are working on ordering modernised F-15EX Eagle II fighters.

Source: Defence News