Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA
Indonesia's belief that the Royal Australian Air Force is using two secretly converted Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions for signals intelligence has inflamed a growing dispute between the two nations as they trade claims over illegal airspace incursions.
The dispute reached new intensity late last month when an Indonesian Northrop F-5 approached to within 8m (26ft) of an RAAF Boeing F/A-18 Hornet.
Indonesia has repeatedly claimed that Australia has been conducting "black flights" over its territory since at least April last year. Australia has denied the claims, but the Indonesian Government lodged a diplomatic protest in February.
Indonesia stepped up the allegations late last year with threats to shoot down aircraft. That threat was initially directed at plans to deploy General Dynamics RF-111C reconnaissance aircraft over East Timor in October as part of United Nation missions. It may have been linked to Indonesia becoming aware of the use of an RF-111C fitted with a long-range imaging pod. Indonesia is also annoyed at US deployment of an EP-3E Aries II to assist Australia's signals intelligence operation against Indonesia on Timor.
The Australian operation, which is under way but at a reduced tempo, began early last year with the Aries II providing relief for the two RAAF EP-3Cs. Australia converted the P-3Cs to operate as intelligence platforms between 1995 and 1998 under the still classified Project Air 5384/Project Peacemate.
Raytheon E-Systems and Melbourne-based Hawker de Havilland performed the modifications, according to senior sources in Canberra.
The 26 April interception involved two F-5Es - believed to have been armed - and five RAAF aircraft - four F/A-18s and a Boeing 707 tanker. The RAAF aircraft were unarmed and in transit to Singapore. Indonesia claims the aircraft penetrated its airspace and failed to respond to radio interrogation. Australia says its aircraft were in international airspace, in a recognised air corridor and "in communication with Indonesian civil airspace authorities".
Source: Flight International
