Indonesia is sending a strong signal to the US Government that it might purchase major new weapons systems from Russia, including fighter aircraft, in the face of growing criticism in Washington of its human-rights record.
According to defence sources in Jakarta, the Indonesian Government has already signed a form of memorandum of understanding with Russia, covering the possible acquisition of a range of Russian weapons. This is understood to include the supply of an unknown number of Sukhoi Su-30s or smaller Mikoyan MiG-29s.
The discussions follow recent visits to Moscow by Indonesia's armed forces chief of staff, Gen Feisal Tanjung, and the country's powerful science and technology minister, Bacharuddin Habibie, who also heads state-run aerospace manufacturer IPTN.
The proposed deal with Indonesia would be partially underwritten with barter trade, as was Russia's 1994 sale of 18 MiG-29s to Malaysia. The move follows Indonesia's decision to scrap a planned purchase of nine Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs in the face of US Congressional opposition.
The deal, if concluded, would mark a clear break for Indonesia from its reliance over the past 30 years on Western arms. Indonesia purchased weapons, including early MiG-21s, from the former USSR in the early 1960s under the previous anti-Western regime of President Sukarno.
Indonesian air force chief of staff Marshal Sutria Tubagus has reportedly told a parliamentary commission that the service is considering fighter proposals from France and Russia, as neither country attaches human-rights concerns to a deal, he says. France is keen to sell Indonesia its Dassault Mirage 2000-5, but faces strong competition from Russia on price.
The planned sale of a further 16 British Aerospace Hawk 200s has also attracted strong criticism from opponents of the Indonesian Government in the UK.
Source: Flight International
