Indonesia inked an $8.1 billion deal with France on Thursday to acquire 42 Rafale fighter jets, France’s defense ministry said, as Paris seeks to bolster military ties in the Indo-Pacific region after losing a submarine deal with Australia last year. French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced the deal on Twitter during her visit to Indonesia on Thursday, stating that it “will benefit from the deepening of our defense relations.” “France is proud to contribute to the modernization of the armed forces of our partner, which plays a key role within ASEAN and in the Indo-Pacific,” Parly said. Indonesia is the second country in the region to acquire the Rafale alongside India. Six Rafale fighter jets will be delivered to Indonesia in the first phase of the deal, with the remaining 36 delivered later this year or next year, according to a French defense ministry official. The agreement will make Indonesia …