The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) has received its second Falcon 8X long-range business jet aircraft, registered as A-0802, which landed at the 17th Air Squadron apron at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta, on Thursday (29/8/24). The arrival of this aircraft strengthens the air fleet supporting VVIP activities and command and control missions for Indonesian Armed Forces leadership. The aircraft was welcomed by Air Operations Command I (Koopsud I) Commander, Air Vice-Marshal Mohammad Nurdin, who represented the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal M. Tonny Harjono. The welcoming ceremony featured a traditional water salute and a flower garlanding for two pilots from Dassault Aviation and two Indonesian Air Force pilots.
The Falcon 8X is a long-range business jet produced by Dassault Aviation, first delivered on October 5, 2016. It is an enhanced version of the Falcon 7X, offering an extended range of 6,450 nautical miles (11,945 km) through engine optimization, aerodynamic refinements, and increased fuel capacity. The Falcon 8X features a unique trijet design with an S-duct central engine, making it one of the few trijets still in production as of 2024. With improvements in wing design and enhanced Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307D engines, the Falcon 8X achieves up to 35% better fuel efficiency than its competitors. Additionally, it is known for its exceptionally quiet cabin and offers a wide variety of layout configurations for passenger comfort.
The Falcon 8X can perform nonstop flights between major cities, such as Beijing and New York or Singapore and London. The aircraft is also equipped with a Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) derived from the Rafale fighter jet, enhancing flight safety and passenger comfort. The FalconEye® option, a synthetic vision system, enables night-time approaches in low-visibility conditions. The PW307D turbofan engines on the Falcon 8X provide an additional thrust of 320 lbf (1.4 kN) and a 1.5% increase in fuel efficiency. The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is increased to 73,000 lbs (33.1 tons), with an additional fuel capacity of 3,200 lbs (1.5 tons), extending the range by 500 nautical miles (926 km). The lighter and more flexible wing structure offers additional comfort, with an average cabin noise level of 47 dB, 2-3 dB lower than the Falcon 7X.
The arrival of this second Falcon 8X is part of the Indonesian Air Force’s Dassault Rafale contract, which includes the delivery of two aircraft in stages over a year. Previously, the Indonesian Air Force operated one Falcon 7X and one Falcon 8X as interim aircraft for familiarization and training purposes. These aircraft are stationed at the 17th Air Squadron, which plays a crucial role in supporting VVIP transport missions and other command and control operations. The Falcon 8X also has a military variant, the Falcon Archange, under development for the French Air and Space Force, equipped with a Universal Electronic Warfare Capability (CUGE) developed by Thales for signals intelligence and electronic warfare missions. This indicates further potential for its future use in different military capacities.
