Indonesia Continues Purchasing Spree

[Feanor]

Indonesia has signed a contract for 18 BMP-3F from Russia.

http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=62518&cid=25

This is on top of previous helicopter (Mi-35 and Mi-17), and fighter jet purchases (Su-30MK and Su-27SK). There is also persistent talk of kilo-class submarines being next in line.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/indonesia-signs-1b-defense-credit-agreement-with-russia-03760/
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/indonesias-air-force-adds-more-flankers-03691/#more-3691

An unnamed source on defensindustrydaily.com claims that the BMP deal includes an option for another 100 vehicles.

So what do you guys think? Is this a break with American monopoly on the Indonesian market? Or just a momentary thing, resulting from the previous American embargo? From the comments from Indonesian officials in one of the articles, it seems that they are genuinely dissatisfied with the political strings that come attached with western equipment purchases.

 

[eckherl]

Indonesia has signed a contract for 18 BMP-3F from Russia.

http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=62518&cid=25

This is on top of previous helicopter (Mi-35 and Mi-17), and fighter jet purchases (Su-30MK and Su-27SK). There is also persistent talk of kilo-class submarines being next in line.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/indonesia-signs-1b-defense-credit-agreement-with-russia-03760/
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/indonesias-air-force-adds-more-flankers-03691/#more-3691

An unnamed source on defensindustrydaily.com claims that the BMP deal includes an option for another 100 vehicles.

So what do you guys think? Is this a break with American monopoly on the Indonesian market? Or just a momentary thing, resulting from the previous American embargo? From the comments from Indonesian officials in one of the articles, it seems that they are genuinely dissatisfied with the political strings that come attached with western equipment purchases.

I think with the type of terrian found in Indonesia that BMP 3 series vehicles will suite their needs.

 

[der_Master]

idk. I think Indonesia should be buying more western equipment. For example Leopards, Abrams, or challys instead of the Russian tanks. The same goes for jets, euro fighters or F-16s or F-15s. However I do think the purchasing of the hind is a good call. I think that because when buying weapons from any particular country is kind of like saying "I’m on your side". This is not good news especially with the rebuilding of the red army and more intense relations between Russia and the US after the Georgian conflict.

 

[Feanor]

What? Heavy armor for Indonesia? Why?

 

[Ananda]

Purchasing from East & West

Hi Guys,

I believe based on several interview in media, heavy armour is not high in the agenda. The Army will only add new arnour in the form of new domestic build wheeled armour (kind of France VAB modification) that's being manufactured by Pindad.

The Russian armour is for the marines, i believe as replacement for PT 76 & BTR 50. Our Marines has lot's experince with Russsian armour, so they don't mind on getting BMP.

Offically current administration want's to have as much as locally build equipment as purchasing policy.
That's why, even though officially we want's to have Kilo's or Lada's Subs, however the defence industries still push for South Korean's build 209's.
This because the Koreans is promising to help Pal (the state dockyard) in building submarines maintanance facilities (which options to developed as manufacturing facilities). Also Koreans agree to trade the submarines with IPTN's CN 235 MPA's.

Like any government purchasing policy in Indonesia, the Armed Force's ones is also plauged with inconsitencies and string-pulling.
The Air Force although being told to have Flankers, still harbour wishes for F-16 Block 52, as F-5's replacement. Lately on several interviews, our Minister of Defence already hinted possible Mirage 2000 from Qatar as another options. Many voices on the ministries told that Qatar willing to trade cheaply those Mirage 2000 as sweetener for portions on our increasingly huge Telco market.

Eastern equipments acquisition was push as counter balance with the US & EU. Thus this is the politician wishes. However the brass in the armed forces still deep down hungry for western equipment.
They're now seems to push for building as many western equipment projects with local manufactures.

Off course this in the end return to the Investment Budget, wich at this moment (for the last 10 yeras) still far bellow what the armed forces wants.

Cheers.

 

[Cooch]

Ananda.

Thankyou for that informative post.

Can you tell us what Indonesia , either politically or militarily, sees as the most likely threat to its security... or the most likely reason that it's armed forces would see deployment?

From a foreign viewpoint, it appears that the most obvious threats to Indonesia's security are internal, but I'll admit to not being as well informed as an Australian should be on a close neighbour.

Regards.......... Peter

 

[Ananda]

Indonesia's Threat..??

Hi Peter,

If you asked who is our biggest threat right now..?? well I have to say our politician...especially in parlement

Internally, despite a lot off prediction for Balkanization in Indonesia...one of our luck is that our Armed Forces is one of the most solid and unified institutions in this Republic.
The largest (in armed terms) insurgencies organisation in the country is the GAM (Aceh Liberation Movement). With peace accord several years ago...this problem practically taking care off...
Papua show a lot of talked of insurgencies..but realistically, they are very weak...and can't show serious insurgencies threat like GAM's capability.

Islamic radicalization and sectarian dispute (like in Ambon and Poso) realitively calmed down...
That's why I said above...the biggest threat internally for us is our politician behaviour (on possible stirring up any restive feeling in the public).

Externally, I believe what our Armed Forces wants is minimum deterence forces and efficient patrolling capabilities.
I'm working with one of the bank in Indonesia, that at this moment being asked to participate in financing local military manufacturing projects.
The first project is manufacturing 150 wheeled armour vehicles with Pindad. The vehicles manufactured locally, with equipment from various sources, including South Korea, and France. The vehicles can't hide that's it is actually France VAB modifications.
The next project should be 'National Corvette' program with PAL, build locally..However besides the blue print of the corvette already exist (based on Italian design)...still some voices in the navy wants the design base on Dutch SIGMA which we already have four of them.

Those projects show what our Armed Forces aiming for..more on Patrolling capabilities with minimum deterence.
The Navy at this moment aimed on fleet based on Corvettes (up to 105 m in length/ 2400 dwt), and large amount of cheap patroll boats ( average 40 m - 60 m in length). With possible up to 8 Subs on the horizon of 2014.
LPD's is also big in the spending with 3 already come from South Korea (one of them actually being converted to hospital ship), 2 being build under license with Pal (with option another 2).
More procurements also aimed on electronic survailances especially in Radar.

The big problems is in the Air Forces. The Armed forces documents show that it wants to have 300 fighters. However with horizon until 2014, they aimed for 8 squadrons consists 4 sq fighters ( Hawk/F-16/Mirage 2000), 2 sq Long Range Interceptors (Flankers), 1sq Armed Trainers (Aermachi/T-50) and 1 sq COIN ( Super Tucano). Even that are still quite ambitious.

I'm very sorry that I can't give sources at this moment. Some what I have stated above, being read from interviews in several local military magazines (Angkasa, Commando, Defender). I'm still try to find if they have good web site that can show their articles (and those all in Bahasa).
Some of them also I heard personally, when those brass talking with us (for getting financial support from Banks in financing local manufacturing projects).

Well, Indonesia still a long way even to have minimum deterence forces, but with possible threat mostly coming from illegal fishing and treaspasers in our teritory, I believe that's still sufficient (if we can procured them).

Off course you can also count on several border issues, especially Ambalat with Malaysia...but no offenses to Malaysian netters...both countries have more to lost..if this is blow up..again this show why politicians need to be reign on...