Indonesia considering U.S.'s F-16 offer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia needs to study first a United States
\noffer of 20 F-16 fighter jets that had originally been intended
\nfor Pakistan, the Armed Forces (ABRI) said yesterday.<\/p>\n
ABRI chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Soewarno Adiwidjojo told
\nAntara news agency that Indonesia could not give an immediate
\nreply to Washington's offer because such a purchase would require
\nthe development of additional Air Force facilities and personnel.<\/p>\n
"We have to think about the military bases, the human
\nresources and the funds needed, which obviously won't be small
\nfor this kind of combat plane," Soewarno said.<\/p>\n
The offer was made by U.S. Secretary of State Warren
\nChristopher during a meeting with Indonesia's Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas in Bandar Seri Begawan on Wednesday. The 20
\nplanes were mothballed to an American hangar after Congress
\nblocked their planned sale to Pakistan.<\/p>\n
Foreign press reports said Christopher had also approached the
\nPhilippines with a similar offer.<\/p>\n
A U.S. State Department spokesman quoted Christopher as saying
\nthat the sale of the F-16s to either country would not upset the
\nmilitary balance in the region.<\/p>\n
Soewarno said Indonesia must also consider a host of other
\nfactors before deciding whether or not to accept the offer; one
\nsuch factor would be the external threats Indonesia will face in
\nthe next five to 10 years.<\/p>\n
One question Indonesia has to answer is "whether the purchase
\nof the F-16s is in congruence with the perception of external
\nthreats," he added.<\/p>\n
Hawk<\/p>\n
Indonesia is currently in the process of acquiring 20 British-
\nmade Hawk jet fighters, with the first delivery expected next
\nApril. The deal is estimated to be worth about 500 million pound
\nsterling (U.S. $790 million).<\/p>\n
The government signed the Hawk deal after its plan to purchase
\nU.S.-built F-5 planes from Jordan in 1993 was blocked by
\nWashington. This move by Washington prompted Indonesia to further
\ndiversify its sources of arms supplies away from the United
\nStates.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Air Force already has a squadron of F-16 jets;
\nit purchased 12 from the United States in a 1980s package deal.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported from the Brunei capital yesterday
\nthat Alatas and Christopher on Wednesday also discussed the
\nprospect of the resumption of the U.S. military training facility
\nfor Indonesian officers, a program that was terminated in 1992 by
\nCongress because of Indonesia's handling of East Timor.<\/p>\n
Alatas told reporters that he casually asked Christopher about
\nthe International Military Education and Training program for
\nIndonesia because it had been debated in the Congress for some
\ntimes.<\/p>\n
Christopher, according to Antara, said that Washington has
\nagreed to its resumption, but the matter is now still being
\ndebated in Congress. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-considering-uss-f-16-offer-1447893297",
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