Paskhasau recently tested the Malyuk bullpup assault rifle from Ukraina.
Yea..another small projects..how our bureaucracy (whether civilian or Military) like multiple small projects..
I thought this administration already adamant no more Import Automatic Gun, and all Armed Forces and Police must uses Locally build ones..
Well enough for my Cynical ranting..
Indonesian government proceeds with the procurement of the aerial refueling aircrafts and transport aircrafts, then both the C-130J and A330 MRTT are logic choices in my opinion.
If we go back to my post #1,881 on that CNBC Indonesia video, the Air Force spokesman talk about their priority of MRCA, UCAV, C-130J, MRTT, AEW&C and Ground Intercept Radar, as Assets they want to have before 2024.
That assessment above put MRTT and C-130J as having more priority traction. UCAV seems the project of MALE UAV of DI and LAPAN/BPPT. At least the media information put those three have priority traction.
On Fighters/MRCA program, this's going to be big question. Are Rafale still getting priority (as seems our current Defense Minister like to put his preference on Dasault products), or US ones? Base on Budget availability, I do have 'doubt' they can get approval for both F-15E and Rafale. Unless they cut other projects.
That will be Inter-Services squabbling on budget allocation, and some compromise will be taken. Big other items are Navy Frigates and Next Batch of submarine. Army wants their heavy helicopters and more Armoured Vehicles for their plan to transfer all the Infantry toward Mobile Infantry units. Historical trend, Army and Navy usually get more priority then AF.
I have put before the talk that I got from my Bapenas colleague. They're only calculate Fighters budget based from previous plan of Su-35 and F-16. USD 1.6 bio as Bapenas put on their official calculation usually in lower end calculation (as my colleague confirm it). However it will be not much more than that, unless other services and Air Force it self agree to give their other projects budget for this MRCA.
So if Prabowo's able to push 36 Rafale or whatever the number of F-15E as plan, we can see some other projects will be cut. It can be varied from AEW&C, MPA, and reduction in numbers of new Frigates, or Army Rotary Wings plan. It also can be from IFX budget (we pull out). All this to give/relocate the budget to whatever MRCA being choose. That's why I said F-16V or Refurbished F-16 still possibility, if other services don't want to give up their budget for this MRCA as plan (Rafale and F-15E).
Add: I put another Info Graphics from that Semar Sentinel LinkedIn page. This actually first page of two on their Fighters assessment. The second page I already put in previous post. I put it only to shown their 'informal' assessment on LM has 'strong' agent in Indonesia. Lobby power is important, and so far Dasault lobby are more to Prabowo's circle. LM still has strong lobby in MinDef and AF.
What I'm getting at is to add my point from above paragraph. From Budget point of view, F-16V still the 'fitting' choice, and this consultant (which seems have inside information from MinDef) shown LM have strong 'lobby'. So potential for F-16 still there based on Budget availability and 'Lobby' power. After all LM and Airbus due have long relationship with Indonesian Defense circle.