By Clement Charpentreau
Qatar is set to deliver 12 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Indonesia after obtaining approval from France.
The contract is being negotiated between the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, its Qatari counterpart, and the Défense Conseil International (DCI), according to the French digital publication Intelligence Online. DCI, in which the French state holds a majority share of over 50%, is primarily known for delivering training programs for French military equipment exported to foreign countries.
The Qatar Emiri Air Force had initially acquired the Mirage 2000-5, an air superiority variant of Dassault Aviation’s fighter, in the late 1990s.
The purchase of these 12 second-hand Mirages was approved by the Indonesian Ministry of Finance in November 2022, as reported by the Indonesian news portal Ulasan. The jets will reportedly arrive in Indonesia by the end of 2023.
Originally, the fleet of 12 Qatari fighters was intended for acquisition by the French private contractor ARES to train local naval fighter pilots. However, the deal seemingly faltered and on January 1, 2023, the company closed down.
Indonesia plans to utilize the Mirage as a temporary solution while awaiting the deliveries of Rafale jets it directly ordered from Dassault Aviation. In February 2022, a contract for six Rafale fighters was signed. In April 2023, sources close to the matter told La Tribune that Indonesia had secured funding for another 18 Rafales along with air-to-air weaponry.
The country aims to modernize its air force by eventually acquiring 42 Dassault Rafale fighter jets.
The inclusion of the Mirage will offer Indonesian pilots and technicians the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Dassault aircraft, following their transition from Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighters.
