Aircraft purchase<\/p>\n
From Merdeka<\/p>\n
To my way of thinking, the purchase of jetfighters from Russia
\nafter the cancelled purchase of U.S.-made F-16s is quite
\nappropriate. It seems the accounts are settled with this purchase
\nof Russian jetfighters.<\/p>\n
The accounts are settled in that the purchase of Sukhoi-30
\njetfighters and M-117 helicopters, worth trillions of rupiah,
\nwill be bartered with our agricultural produce such as oil palms,
\ntea and so forth. Once we did practice counter purchase when we
\nbartered our CN-235 aircraft with Thailand's glutinous rice.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the barter of our aircraft, manufactured by
\nNational Aircraft Manufacturing Industry (IPTN) with glutinous
\nrice from Thailand, which some people have cynically made remarks
\nabout, has turned out to be profitable and useful. Russia, a
\ncountry with the technology as advanced as that of the United
\nStates, is ready to accept this counter purchase method, that is,
\nexchanging its 12 jet fighters for Indonesia's agricultural
\nproduce. Obviously this sale is mutually beneficial in terms of
\nboth countries' domestic needs.<\/p>\n
However, this does not mean that a sale is conducted on the
\nbasis of a barter with our agricultural produce as this method
\nmust be employed only on the basis of each country's need.<\/p>\n
Russia sees no problem accepting payment in the form of
\nagricultural produce. To Indonesia, this decision is daring
\nenough as it is made after the rejection of any attempt to link
\nthe sale of F-16 fighter planes with human rights matters.<\/p>\n
The purchase of these Russian aircraft means a challenge to
\nIndonesian sons to master Russian technology. It is our hope that
\nwe can master the technology and transfer it to us in order that
\nwe man some day manufacture the aircraft ourselves and ensure
\nthat we are not short of spare parts for the planes, like Iran
\nwhich purchased fighter planes from the United States.
\nUnfortunately, the U.S. refused to deliver the spare parts once a
\npolitical change occurred in Iran. In such a case, purchasing
\nadvanced airplanes will be meaningless because you cannot fly
\nthem.<\/p>\n
May the inclusion of additional jetfighters in our air force
\nstrengthen our country's defense and security.<\/p>\n
L. WARSONO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aircraft-purchase-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }