JAKARTA, 12 February 2022, (TON): Indonesia ordered 42 Rafale fighter jets from France and may acquire two French submarines, while the United States approved Jakarta’s potential purchase of 36 F-15s in the face of growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific.

Indonesia’s first order for French warplanes comes as Jakarta replaces an ageing fleet consisting mainly of American F-16s and Russian Sukhois, as concerns grow about rising US-China tensions in Asia.

The Rafale agreement was announced as Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto met his French counterpart Florence Parly in Jakarta.

Subianto confirmed a deal had been struck for the purchase of the jets, with a contract signed relating to the first six.

France’s defence ministry said the contract for the 42 aircraft and their weapons was worth $8.1 billion (7.1 billion euros).

Spokesman Herve Grandjean said the two countries also signed a letter of intent for research and development with a view to Indonesia ordering two Scorpene submarines.

Meanwhile, the US State Department said it had approved the potential F-15s sale along with other assorted military equipment for an estimated $14 billion.