Dassault Aviation has delivered six Rafale F4i jets to Indonesia out\nof a total order of 42 units, with the remainder to be handed over\ngradually until 2029. The acquisition of the Rafale F4i represents a\nleap for Indonesia, which since 1989 has operated fighter jets with\n1980s technology, although a number of F-16s were upgraded with early\n2000s technology several years ago. With fewer global aerospace\nindustries producing fighter jets, Indonesia\u2019s options for 4.5\ngeneration fighters are dwindling. Options will become even more limited\nif the country intends to purchase fifth-generation fighter aircraft in\nthe 2030s.<\/p>\n
ThalesRaytheonSystems has begun the phased delivery of 13 GM400\u03b1 air\ndefence radars, with the first radar in Banjarbaru currently undergoing\nacceptance testing, while the second awaits the completion of\ninfrastructure in Takalar. The presence of the GM400\u03b1, with a contract\nvalue of \u20ac354 million, is urgently needed not only to build a new air\ndefence radar network in areas that have so far lacked optimal radar\ncoverage, but also to replace a number of technologically obsolete\nradars. For a long time, the modernisation of air defence radars has\nbeen slow because procurement programmes were always in small\nquantities. It was only during the 2020-2024 Minimum Essential Force\n(MEF) era that the Ministry of Defence acquired 25 units.<\/p>\n
However, 12 of these units, with a contract value of \u20ac321.4 million,\nhave raised doubts and questions regarding their technological aspects\nand operational capability. The 12 radars in question have never been\nproduced before, aside from the fact that the manufacturer has only\npreviously been involved in the field of civil aviation radar. According\nto plan, the 13 GM400\u03b1 radars will be installed from the South\nKalimantan region to Papua, combining new radar units with existing\nones. The radar, which operates on frequencies from 2 GHz to 4 GHz, is\nexpected to strengthen air defence capabilities in central to eastern\nIndonesia, which has been a weak point since the 1960s.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, although three radar units in Papua have adopted\nthe Master T radar, over time this radar has begun to become\ntechnologically obsolete if it does not undergo a capability enhancement\nprogramme. There are also predecessor generation radars to the Master T\nthat are still operated in both regions, such as the AR-325 produced by\nPlessey (now BAE Systems) and the TRS-2215 made by Thomson CSF (now\nThalesRaytheonSystems). To modernise air defence capabilities in western\nIndonesia, the Ministry of Defence plans to install 12 new Czech-made\nradars to replace old radars such as the TRS-2215 and TRS-2230.<\/p>\n
Additionally, a capability enhancement programme is currently\nunderway for the Master T radars operating in the region, given that the\ntechnology used is becoming outdated. However, as previously mentioned,\nthere are a number of doubts and questions about the radar contract\nawarded to Retia, where the contract has been amended multiple times for\nradars that have never been produced before. Among the reasons for the\ncontract amendments are the continuously changing delivery schedules as\na consequence of various technical obstacles in the radar production\nactivities by a manufacturer that has never had a portfolio in air\ndefence radars.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Air Force, as the user of the Rafale F4i, has decided\nto station the fighter jets in western Indonesia, specifically in\nPekanbaru and Pontianak. To support the future operations of the Rafale\nF4i, there are plans to integrate the air defence radars and the\nfighters to create an air picture, so the Rafale F4i does not rely\nsolely on its RBE2 AESA radar. The integration involves a connection\nbetween the Rafale\u2019s LCall Tactical Data Link (TDL), produced by Thales,\nand the GM400\u03b1 radar, enabling the transmission of radar-captured\nimagery to the fighter jet. An air picture is part of situational\nawareness, ensuring that pilots and other relevant parties have complete\ninformation and data regarding the tactical situation.<\/p>\n
A critical question arises: how will the French-made fighters be\noperated optimally in western Indonesia if there is operational\nuncertainty regarding the air defence radars deployed there? Even if\nRetia can deliver the 12 radars ordered by Indonesia, questions remain\nabout their operational performance. Furthermore, how will these radars\nbe integrated to support fighter assets like the Rafale, which are\nspecifically stationed in the western part of the country? The emergence\nof such questions is inseparable from the undeniable fact that the\nradars purchased by the Ministry of Defence have never been produced\nbefore, meaning there is no empirical data to serve as a benchmark for\nformulating assumptions about their operational performance. It was\nmentioned earlier that the GM400\u03b1 radars will be stationed in central\nand eastern Indonesia, so technically there will be no issue when they\nneed to be integrated with the Rafale F4i to create an air picture. The\ncritical issue is how integration will occur in western Indonesia if the\nMinistry of Defence proceeds with the procurement contract for the 12\nCzech radars. Besides the question mark over the radars\u2019 operational\nperformance, integrating these radars into the SkyView system operated\nby the Indonesian Air Force is the next critical issue. Technically,\nintegration can be carried out if the manufacturer opens the radar\u2019s\nsource code so it can connect with SkyView, as the Retia radar cannot be\nintegrated directly with the Rafale F4i via the LCall TDL.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dassault-aviation-thales-and-the-integration-of-air-defence-systems-1784631188", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }