Indonesian Air Force to get 12 used Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighters from Qatar Air Force.

On June 15, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense announced on its website that after the signing of the purchase of used Mirages 2000-5 from Qatar, news emerged in the media accompanied by a number of questions from the public regarding the procurement. In order to avoid confusion in information and as a form of public information disclosure, a response to the news regarding the procurement of Mirage 2000-5 aircraft is presented as follows.

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The contract between Indonesia and Qatar includes 12 Mirage 2000-5 ex-Qatar Air Force (9  single-seat and 3 double-seat  (Picture source: Qatar Air Force)

Procurement of (A) MRCA/Mirage 2000-5 and its support was carried out based on the letter of the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency Number: R.387/D.8/PD.01.01/05/2023 dated 17 May 2023 concerning Amendments to the four Lists The 2020-2024 Special Medium Term Foreign Loan Plan (DRPLN-JM) for the Ministry of Defense and Minister of Finance Letter Number: S.786/MK.08/2022 dated 20 September 2022 concerning PSP Year 2022 for (A) MRCA / Mirage 2000 -5 (With Support) of USD 734,535,100.

The procurement is stated in the Sale and Purchase Contract Number: TRAK/181/PLN/I/2023/AU, dated 31 January 2023 with a contract value of EUR 733,000,000.00 with the provider Excalibur International a.s., Czech Republic. It is planned that the aircraft will be delivered 24 months after the contract is effective and will be placed at Air Squadron 1 Supadio Air Force Base, Pontianak, West Kalimantan.

The contract material includes 12 MIRAGE 2000-5 ex-Qatar Air Force (9 Single Seat And 3 Double Seat, 14 Engine and T-cell, Technical Publications, GSE, Spare, Test Benches, A/C Delivery, FF & Insurance, Support Service (3 Years), Training Pilot And Technician, Infrastructure, and Weaponary Currently the status of the contract is in the process of contract effectiveness.

The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia has high concern for the combat readiness of the Indonesian Air Force. As is well known, many Indonesian Air Force defense equipment in the form of fighter aircraft have entered the end of their useful life, such as the F-5 Tiger aircraft. Where until now the plan to replace the F-5 Tiger aircraft in the form of SU-35 Sukhoi aircraft is constrained by the threat of CATSA sanctions and the OPAC List from the United States. Meanwhile, the Hawk 100/200 aircraft will also enter the end-of-life phase. Therefore, additional defense equipment is needed in the form of combat aircraft to replace aircraft that have expired.

To increase the combat capability of the Indonesian Air Force, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia has an upgrade and overhaul/repair plan for the SU-27/30, Hawk 100/200 and F-16 aircraft where this is in accordance with the letter of the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency Number: R .387/D.8/PD.01.01 /05/2023 dated 17 May 2023 concerning the fourth Amendment to the List of 2020-2024 Special Medium Term Foreign Loan Plans (DRPLN-JM) for the Ministry of Defense.

However, the implementation of the upgrade and overhaul/repair of the aircraft mentioned above will lead to a decrease in the readiness of the Indonesian Air Force fighter aircraft. In accordance with the letter of the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency Number: R.387/D.8/PD.01.01/05/2023 dated 17 May 2023 concerning the Fourth Amendment to the List of Special Medium Term Foreign Loans (DRPLN-JM) In 2020-2024 for the Ministry of Defence, apart from upgrading and overhauling/repairing the SU-27/30, Hawk 100/200 and F-16 aircraft, there is also the purchase of defense equipment in the form of new aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale and F-15 Super Eagle. However, based on the contract, it is stated that the arrival of the first 3 Rafale aircraft will only take place in January 2026, while the F-15 aircraft contract is still in the discussion stage of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance by the United States Government (purchasing F-15 aircraft with the FMS (Foreign) scheme). Military Sales).

The reason for the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia to carry out the procurement of Mirage 2000-5 Ex Qatari Air Force aircraft is because Indonesia needs fighter aircraft defense equipment that can carry out delivery quickly to cover the decline in the combat readiness of the Indonesian Air Force which is caused by the large number of Indonesian Air Force fighter aircraft that have exhausted their useful life, many aircraft which will carry out upgrades, overhauls/repairs and the length of time for delivery of aircraft for new procurement orders. With the conditions above, it is considered that the purchase of Mirage 2000-5 Ex Qatari Air Force aircraft is the right step to meet the readiness of the Indonesian Air Force fighter aircraft.

(Bureau of Public Relations of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense)

The contract between Indonesia and Qatar includes 12 Mirage 2000-5 ex-Qatar Air Force (9 Single Seat And 3 Double Seat  (Picture source: Qatar Air Force)