Analysts back move to cut dependence on U.S. weaponry<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Defense analysts have thrown their support behind government
\nmoves to look for other arms suppliers in a bid to cut its
\ndependence on the United States, which has imposed a military
\nembargo on the country since 1991.<\/p>\n
\"It will be easier to procure arms from Russia, than to woo
\nthe U.S. Congress to allow us to repair our F-16 planes,\" Juwono
\nSudarsono told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Some of Indonesia's U.S.-made fighter planes have been
\ngrounded because of difficulties in purchasing spare parts
\nincurred by the military embargo. The embargo was placed on
\nIndonesia following the Santa Cruz incident in 1991, in which
\nIndonesian troops opened fire on a group of East Timorese
\nprotesters, killing dozens of civilians.<\/p>\n
Although bilateral relations between the two countries have
\nimproved since Indonesia joined the U.S.-led global war against
\nterrorism, especially after the police demonstrated their strong
\nresolve in investigating the Bali terrorist attacks of Oct. 12,
\n2002, there have been no indications that the U.S. would ease its
\nmilitary embargo against Indonesia.<\/p>\n
According to Yuwono, who was formerly minister of defense,
\nthere would be a slight difficulty in the maintenance and
\nrepairing of the new arms from Russia, as the country's military
\nhad been dependent on U.S. arms for almost three decades.<\/p>\n
\"However, it can be taken care of, because many western
\ncompanies are now familiar with Russian weaponry,\" Juwono said.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri left for Romania on Thursday
\nevening on the first leg of her three-nation tour, which would
\nalso take her to Russia and Poland.<\/p>\n
In Russia, Megawati, who is traveling with Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, is expected to sign a
\nnumber of memoranda of understanding, including one on the
\npurchase of four warplanes -- two Sukhoi 27 and two Sukhoi 30.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said on Thursday that the presidential entourage
\nwould look into the possibility of purchasing the Sukhoi 27 jet
\nfighter and Mi-35 technical helicopter.<\/p>\n
\"The jet fighter will be for the Air Force, while the
\nhelicopter will be for the Army,\" Endriartono said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that it would take some time to shift from using
\nU.S.-made weapons to Russian-made arms. However, he stressed that
\nit had to be done because of the immediate need for the military
\nto improve its capabilities.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, it (the shift in weaponry) will be made gradually,
\nbecause we cannot afford to change everything at the same time,\"
\nEndriartono remarked.<\/p>\n
Juwono said he suspected TNI has contacted the Malaysian
\nAir Force, which currently uses the Sukhoi jet fighters, to know
\nmore on the maintenance of the planes.<\/p>\n
\"However, with the current budget constraint, it is still
\nquestionable whether Russia could agree with the purchase,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I suspect that there will be a counter trade, maybe with the
\noil agreement that the two countries might also sign,\" Juwono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Megawati will arrive in Russia on Sunday, and is expected to
\nsign a contract in Moscow for four Russian Sukhoi fighter planes,
\nthe Vedomosti business daily reported.<\/p>\n
The contract, for four SU-27 jets, is worth between US$100
\nmillion to US$120 million, and will be signed during the visit,
\nthe newspaper quoted an industry source as saying.<\/p>\n
According to a source at the Russian military-industrial
\ncomplex as quoted by Interfax news agency, Indonesia will place
\nan order for two Sukhoi-27 and two Sukhoi-30.<\/p>\n
During her trip to Russia, Megawati will also visit a Sukhoi
\ntesting base outside Moscow, Interfax added.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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