Dassault Rafale B F.4 #T-0301 - First Angel in South-East-Asia

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Dassault Rafale B F.4 #T-0301 - First in South-East-Asia

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Hi and welcome to my 103rd suggestion, which is about the first Indonesian and SEA Rafale! :popcorn:

First of all:

  • Feel free to share more Information and / or correct me if something is wrong
  • Discuss respectfully, any aggressive kind or verbal abuse will be reported, the Forum rules also apply here
  • Disclaimer: Pictures are very rare at the moment - I’ll replace some pics once there are more

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Basic Background

On 10 February 2022, Indonesia signed a contract with Dassault for 26 single-seat and 16 two-seat Rafale aircraft, which are to gradually replace the F-16, Su-27 and Su-30. During French President Macron’s visit in May 2025, a possible follow-up order was announced.
In addition to the Rafale, Indonesia also plans to procure the South Korean KF-21 Boramae and the Turkish TAI Kaan in the future in order to build a modern, versatile and technologically advanced air force.
As part of Pilot Training Batch 1 and the Organisational Level of Maintenance (OLM) Technical Programme, 16 selected participants – four pilots and twelve technicians – will receive comprehensive training. The team is led by Lieutenant Colonel Pnb Binggi Nobel, M.S.S., Head of Operations at Supadio Air Base.
The aim of these measures is to train highly qualified, modern and adaptable personnel who are able to meet the increased demands of modern air warfare. The programme is closely linked to the Air Force’s modernisation strategy, which envisages the expansion and integration of the latest defence and security technologies.
The long-term goal is to enable Indonesia to respond quickly to current and future threats.
The technical training covers both general and specialised topics in the areas of engine maintenance (Vector), avionics and armament. Classes are held partly in classrooms and partly in hangars, supplemented by practical assignments in French operational squadrons.
The pilots, in turn, first deepen their theoretical knowledge of Rafale systems and operational procedures before moving on to simulator and flight training.
Starting on 20 August, the pilots will continue their training at Saint-Dizier Air Base in France, where they will take part in mission simulations and comprehensive flight training until December. This phase is considered crucial to ensuring the aircraft’s full operational capability once it is officially put into service in Indonesia.

The first ready aircraft, serial #T-0301, seen with Indonesian markings and a two-tone gray camouflage scheme. On the tail, the insignia of Indonesia’s 6th Air Wing; 12th Air Squadron, one of two units of the 6th Air Wing, which will be first to operate the Rafale in Indonesian service.

grafik - In 2024 model and livery presented

Armament of Rafale B F.4

The Rafale’s armament is expanded by almost every standard. The F.4 standard is one of the most modern and, brought many changes with it.
Since the SBU-XY (AASM) is a guidance and range increase kit, it can come with multiple variants and different purpose fillers as each kit is mounted in front and behind a conventional 250 - 1000 kg bomb (HAMMER V1) or BLU-126 (HAMMER V4).

Which exact armament and sub-systems Indonesia chose will be revealed time by time, until then I will list the known standard armament of a serial Rafale F.4.1 - besides having historical eight MICA capability, option for AASM-1000, possible future software update for AASM-XLR and MICA NG, the Indonesian Rafale B F.4 would essentially be identical to the Rafale C F.3R we’ve in-game, with slightly worse flight performance and a backup Pilot.

Air-to-Air Missiles

  • 8x MICA IR
  • 8x MICA EM
  • 4x MBDA Meteor

Guided- / Dumb-Bombs

  • 3x AASM-1000
  • 6x SBU-38
  • 6x SBU-54
  • 6x SBU-64

  • 6x GBU-12
  • 4x GBU-16
  • 6x GBU-22
  • 3x GBU-24

  • 6x Mk.81
  • 6x Mk.82
  • 4x Mk.83

Air-to-Surface Missiles

  • 3x SCALP-EG
  • 1x AM39 Block II Mod. 2

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Specifications and Internal

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 15.3 m
  • Wingspan: 10.9 m
  • Height: 5.34 m
  • Wing area: 46.0 m²
  • Empty weight: 9.060 kg
  • Loaded weight: 14.000 kg
  • Max. takeoff weight: 19.500 kg
  • Powerplant: 2 × SNECMA M88-2E4
    • Dry thrust: 50 kN
    • Thrust with afterburner: 75 kN
  • Maximum speed is Mach 1.9:
    • 1400 km/h at sea level
    • 2130 km/h at altitude
  • Service ceiling: 16.763 m
  • Rate of climb: >305 m/s
  • Wing loading:
    * Min.: 224 kg/m²
    * Mid.: 322 kg/m²
    * Max.: 536 kg/m²
  • Thrust/weight:
    * Max.: 1,50
    * Min.: 0,60
  • Maximum g-load: +9g / -3g

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Learn more about the Dassault Rafale here:

Thanks for your time, hope you liked it :salute:
[Will add more if there are some (more) important / declassified things]
[PM or comment if a Link or Picture isn´t working]
Sources:

Links

First Look at Indonesian Rafale As Crews Train For New Jet - The Aviationist
Indonesia reveals first Rafale fighter images as pilots and engineers train in France ahead of December delivery | Flight Global
https://air.defense.gouv.fr/armee-de-lair-et-de-lespace/actualite/le-ceam-receptionne-le-premier-rafale-au-standard-f41
La DGA qualifie le Rafale au standard F4.1 | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants
The French Air Force Is Testing The New Rafale F4-1 Standard - The Aviationist
https://air-cosmos.com/article/avion-de-combat-du-punch-en-plus-pour-les-rafale-f4-64097
https://www.aeroflap.com.br/de/nova-versao-do-dassault-rafale-tera-bomba-inteligente-de-1-tonelada/
https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/01/aasm-1000-the-guided-heavy-bomb-homologated-for-the-rafale-f4/
New munition under the French Rafale F4.1 wings - AASM 1000
‘Bunker buster’ for Rafale: Fighter tests 1,000kg version of HAMMER missile- The Week
DASSAULT RAFALE
Dassault-Aviation Rafale M [in french]
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/rafale-multirole-combat-fighter/
FLIGHT TEST: Dassault Rafale - Rampant Rafale | News | Flight Global


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embedfail

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Noooo GIFs | Tenor

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Hell yeah, Rafales everywhere
Also I like the two tone camo of these ones

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5

Japanese rafale, sign me up. Although would prefer the c and not the fat b

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+1 too much work to grind france for the rafale :p (I’m at the mirage 2000C-S5)

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The point is Indonesia isn’t getting the C, only the B

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Why would they not get the c, I’m pretty sure they ordered the c as well and just haven’t received them yet

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Nope, what you gotta understand is the Rafale B isn’t dedicated to training like the F-15B/D for example, it’s as much a combat aircraft as the C. France, for example, operates 60% B and 40% C. And Indonesia, afaik, has chosen the B only.
It’s a choice, it’s not bizarre, like how the F-15E only exists as a twin seater and they didn’t make a single seat one at all

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+1

Any chance to get a twin seat variant is a good one, and here it also comes with one of the best standard camouflages of any Rafale

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Indonesia is getting the C, just that the first 6 will be Bs. So far only the first three have been built. Personally I just think it’s a nice chance to get something we usually don’t, because twin seat aircraft are way too rare.

I wouldn’t mind a C as well alongside it, but I’d at least wait for it to exist

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Yeah I just checked and the sources have mixed claims but many do say they ordered the C too. This is weird since that’s not what I found last time I checked but whatever.
It’s weird how the same research can give pretty different results at different times

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26-30 Rafale Cs & 12-16 Rafale Bs. the first batch ( 6 units ) are only Rafale Bs for familiarity & training, then in 2027-2029, the Rafale Cs & remaining Bs would be delivered in two batches (18 + 18)

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uhhh no? Indonesia ordered both Rafale C and B models, the first batch to be delivered are understandably the B models so that Indonesian pilots could train with them.

A model and artistic illustration of the Indonesian Rafale at Dassault’s booth in Indo Defence 2024 Expo showed the C model.

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It doesn’t necessarily change the fact that the B isn’t a necessary dedicated trainer. I think for the sake of “Uniqueness” the B would be considered good for Japan, since it’s pretty much like Israeli F-16D/I and it’s the first Indonesian Aircraft to be arrived pretty soon while the C could be added later.

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I don’t have problem with the Rafale B suggestion, I’m only refuting what AydanL44_Hunter was saying, that Indonesia only buys the Rafale B and not the C model too

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Yeah I realized that afterwards

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Honestly, I’m not too keen on the Rafale being implemented outside of France :(
If this aircraft ends up like the Hornet or F-104, it would strip away the identity of France’s TT. Furthermore, many players are seeking weapons capable of countering the Rafale, rather than having the Rafale implemented across various TTs.