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French Air Force aircraft lands in Indonesia for PEGASE mission.
After 3 weeks in Australia for PitchBlack 2022, 3 Rafale, 2 A330 MRTT Phénix, 1 A400M Atlas and a detachment of 170 personnel landed on Halim Perdanakusuma's BA in Indonesia for the 1st stop of the PEGASE mission.
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The Air and Space Force frequently conducts power projection operations. This year, she will carry out, at the start from France, between August 10 and September 18 2022, a continuum of large-scale activities, in Asia-Pacific (Picture source: Embassy of France in Singapore)
The deployment conducted by French Air Space Force called the PEGASE mission is led by GDA Stéphane GROEN. This stopover in Singapore from September 14 to September 16 asserts France’s commitment to the security and stability of the Asian-Pacific region.
Indonesia has been a strategic partner of France since 2011. The signing of the Rafale and A400M contracts announces a strengthening of interactions between France and Indonesia. A bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement was signed on June 28, 2021, helping to strengthen the dynamic of cooperation between France and Indonesia. French military cooperation with the Indonesian army is enhanced with the aim of strengthening bilateral defense relationship over the long term.
The Air and Space Force and the Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU: Indonesian Air Force) have similar means: Rafale, Caracal, A400M, and recently with GM403 radars (contract signed on May 17, 2022).
France maintains a regular defense relationship with Indonesia. Indonesia is a partner with the Armed Forces of New Caledonia (FANC). The Indonesian armies thus participated in "Croix du Sud" ("Southern Cross") as an observer in 2018, in Nouméa. Their participation in the 2023 edition is confirmed. Regional exercises with the FANC and SOUTEX (export support) are vectors for the development of this cooperation.
Mission map of PEGASE 2022 (Picture source: French Air and Space Force)