Indonesia Giving Priority to C-130 Hercules Planes

Indonesian C-130H-30

From 2001-2005, the US State and Defense Departments lobbied for the resumption of US weapons sales to Indonesia, as part of their efforts to secure support against Islamic terrorists. The US Senate refused to lift the ban, which had been put in place after widespread murders and human rights abuses by Indonesia’s military in East Timor. The Senate did, however, give the Secretary of State the power to issue a waiver to the ban, if it was deemed to be in the interests of national security. The US State Department promptly issued that waiver.

At the time, it was speculated that Indonesia’s first priority might be its F-16s, only 4 of which were still flyable. That’s still on the agenda, but a buy of Russian SU-27/30 Flankers has taken some of the urgency away. Instead, in a display of smart politics, Indonesia’s top priority with the USA has been its C-130 Hercules tactical transport fleet. A move that gained impetus after a tragic 2009 crash.

Indonesia Orders Up More Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Dirgantara CN-235 MPA
(click to view larger)

Indonesia has more coastline to cover than almost any country in the world (2nd only to Canada), and its archipelago straddles one of the world’s most important shipping chokepoints. On Dec 11/09, its defense ministry signed an $80 million contract with state-owned Dirgantara for 3 CN-235-220 MPA maritime patrol aircraft. The 3 planes are half of the 6 provided for in the Indonesian Navy’s 2010-2014 Strategic Plan, as part of its Minimum Essential Force.

The CN-235 light air transport is a successful collaboration between EADS-CASA of Spain and Indonesia’s Dirgantara (formerly IPTN).

Asian Shift: $60b for Asian Navies Over Next 5 Years

RSS Formidable and
INS Brahmaputra

Agence France Presse quotes naval consultancy AMI International, whose analysts are forecasting that Asian states will spend $60 billion to modernize their navies in the next 5 years. That amount is very similar to the USA’s forecast spend over the same period. If the USA is excluded from calculations, it’s more than the forecast combined spend among all NATO states.

So, where’s the focus expected to be? And who is expected to lead?

Indonesia’s Blogging Defense Minister

Juwono Sudarsono

Well, this was certainly interesting. Indonesia’s Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono has gone online… with a blog. So far, he has been talking about politics, development, and defense-related matters as well. His blog even accepts comments, and the exchanges with the global public in his post “Military Business and the Reform Process” are especially interesting.

Back in March 2005, DID covered US Strategic Command’s 4-star blogging general. That was an internal effort, and from scattered reports apparently somewhat successful. This effort is somewhat different, and would be unusual even in a country like the USA or Sweden.

Indonesia Considers Buying Up to 12 Submarines

Indonesia

Agence France Presse reports that Indonesia is considering buying submarines from Russia, South Korea or China, and plans to buy 12 of them before 2024. Navy spokesman First Admiral Malik Yusuf was quoted as saying that: “We have received offers from several countries, including Russia. If we can buy them at cheaper prices, why not? We don’t want to depend on one country.” The navy currently operates two German-made Cakra Class (Type 209/1300) submarines delivered in 1981; Adm. Yusuf said Indonesia’s capability to defend its waters remained weak due to a lack of submarines, frigates and corvettes. See Hazegrey’s listing of the ships in Indonesia’s current navy.

State Dept. Issues Waiver, Resumes US Military Sales to Indonesia

Grounded.

The recent tsunami also triggered a wave of military contacts and cooperation between the USA and Indonesia, with American naval forces serving as the backbone of on-the-ground relief efforts. Overall relations and public sentiment on both sides improved considerably. Nevertheless, the US House and Senate recently decided to include the Senate’s prohibitions on lethal military equipment sales to Indonesia in the 2006 Foreign Operations Act until key conditions regarding accountability, human rights, and civilian control of the military were met. Now, the US State Department has exercised its authority under that law to waive those restrictions “in the interests of US national security.”

There’s a lot going on here.

Indonesia’s Military Looking to Increase Spending

Indonesia

The recent dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia is leading Indonesia’s military to request significant increases in spending, in order to update and maintain to its aging equipment. Military spending this year is set at Rp 21.9 trillion (USD $2.4 billion), up slightly from Rp 21.4 trillion last year and Rp 11.53 trillion in 2003.

Indonesian defense officials noted that their military is unlikely to purchase new arms before 2007; nevertheless, the issue of spares and maintenance is a significant problem in light of a 13 year old U.S. arms embargo over human rights violations in East Timor. Cumbersome internal procurement policies create further barriers to effectiveness, and Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has noted that abolishing the legal requirement to procure all equipment through “third parties or private partners” could save the military up to 50%. Observers have noted that these regulations have often been a vehicle for corruption. Jakarta Post article.

Indonesia

The recent dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia is leading Indonesia’s military to request significant increases in spending, in order to update and maintain to its aging equipment. Military spending this year is set at Rp 21.9 trillion (USD $2.4 billion), up slightly from Rp 21.4 trillion last year and Rp 11.53 trillion in 2003.

Indonesian defense officials noted that their military is unlikely to purchase new arms before 2007; nevertheless, the issue of spares and maintenance is a significant problem in light of a 13 year old U.S. arms embargo over human rights violations in East Timor. Cumbersome internal procurement policies create further barriers to effectiveness, and Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has noted that abolishing the legal requirement to procure all equipment through “third parties or private partners” could save the military up to 50%. Observers have noted that these regulations have often been a vehicle for corruption. Jakarta Post article.

Indonesia

The recent dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia is leading Indonesia’s military to request significant increases in spending, in order to update and maintain to its aging equipment. Military spending this year is set at Rp 21.9 trillion (USD $2.4 billion), up slightly from Rp 21.4 trillion last year and Rp 11.53 trillion in 2003.

Indonesian defense officials noted that their military is unlikely to purchase new arms before 2007; nevertheless, the issue of spares and maintenance is a significant problem in light of a 13 year old U.S. arms embargo over human rights violations in East Timor. Cumbersome internal procurement policies create further barriers to effectiveness, and Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has noted that abolishing the legal requirement to procure all equipment through “third parties or private partners” could save the military up to 50%. Observers have noted that these regulations have often been a vehicle for corruption. Jakarta Post article.

Indonesia

The recent dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia is leading Indonesia’s military to request significant increases in spending, in order to update and maintain to its aging equipment. Military spending this year is set at Rp 21.9 trillion (USD $2.4 billion), up slightly from Rp 21.4 trillion last year and Rp 11.53 trillion in 2003.

Indonesian defense officials noted that their military is unlikely to purchase new arms before 2007; nevertheless, the issue of spares and maintenance is a significant problem in light of a 13 year old U.S. arms embargo over human rights violations in East Timor. Cumbersome internal procurement policies create further barriers to effectiveness, and Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has noted that abolishing the legal requirement to procure all equipment through “third parties or private partners” could save the military up to 50%. Observers have noted that these regulations have often been a vehicle for corruption. Jakarta Post article.