Indonesia is planning to buy Rafale fighter jets from France.

Jakarta is in negotiations with France to finalize Rafale jets' purchase deal as part of the two countries' comprehensive defense cooperation.

Jakarta is in negotiations with France to finalize Rafale jets' purchase deal as part of the two countries' comprehensive defense cooperation.On Oct. 21, 2020, at a meeting in Paris, Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and French Defense Minister Florence Parly had discussed the framework for future defense cooperation between the two countries. In the earlier meeting in January, the two ministers agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation into a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA).

Asia Times reports that the potential sale of 36 Rafales was confirmed by Parly during a TV interview. She noted that the contract signature was still pending but that the deal was very well advanced. During a meeting at the France Defence Ministry's office in October, the two Ministers had asked their negotiation teams to finish the talks immediately so the DCA could be signed at the end of 2020, on the 70th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations.

Arrmanatha Nasir, the Indonesian Ambassador, said that the cooperation between Indonesia and France in the defense sector is advancing, not only in communication but also with the Strategic Defense Equipment Cooperation working group's activities, which had met twice in 2020.

In October, Subianto had spent more time to solve their long-standing issue to replace their aging fighter jets with Rafale. Nikkei Asia reports that Subianto flew to the U.S., Austria, France, Turkey, for the best option and the best deal. He expressed an interest in France's Rafale fighter jets during his trip to Paris in January, it reports.