Analysts back move to cut dependence on U.S. weaponry

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Defense analysts have thrown their support behind government moves to look for other arms suppliers in a bid to cut its dependence on the United States, which has imposed a military embargo on the country since 1991.

"It will be easier to procure arms from Russia, than to woo the U.S. Congress to allow us to repair our F-16 planes," Juwono Sudarsono told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Some of Indonesia's U.S.-made fighter planes have been grounded because of difficulties in purchasing spare parts incurred by the military embargo. The embargo was placed on Indonesia following the Santa Cruz incident in 1991, in which Indonesian troops opened fire on a group of East Timorese protesters, killing dozens of civilians.

Although bilateral relations between the two countries have improved since Indonesia joined the U.S.-led global war against terrorism, especially after the police demonstrated their strong resolve in investigating the Bali terrorist attacks of Oct. 12, 2002, there have been no indications that the U.S. would ease its military embargo against Indonesia.

According to Yuwono, who was formerly minister of defense, there would be a slight difficulty in the maintenance and repairing of the new arms from Russia, as the country's military had been dependent on U.S. arms for almost three decades.

"However, it can be taken care of, because many western companies are now familiar with Russian weaponry," Juwono said.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri left for Romania on Thursday evening on the first leg of her three-nation tour, which would also take her to Russia and Poland.

In Russia, Megawati, who is traveling with Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, is expected to sign a number of memoranda of understanding, including one on the purchase of four warplanes -- two Sukhoi 27 and two Sukhoi 30.

Endriartono said on Thursday that the presidential entourage would look into the possibility of purchasing the Sukhoi 27 jet fighter and Mi-35 technical helicopter.

"The jet fighter will be for the Air Force, while the helicopter will be for the Army," Endriartono said.

He admitted that it would take some time to shift from using U.S.-made weapons to Russian-made arms. However, he stressed that it had to be done because of the immediate need for the military to improve its capabilities.

"Of course, it (the shift in weaponry) will be made gradually, because we cannot afford to change everything at the same time," Endriartono remarked.

Juwono said he suspected TNI has contacted the Malaysian Air Force, which currently uses the Sukhoi jet fighters, to know more on the maintenance of the planes.

"However, with the current budget constraint, it is still questionable whether Russia could agree with the purchase," he said.

"I suspect that there will be a counter trade, maybe with the oil agreement that the two countries might also sign," Juwono said.

Megawati will arrive in Russia on Sunday, and is expected to sign a contract in Moscow for four Russian Sukhoi fighter planes, the Vedomosti business daily reported.

The contract, for four SU-27 jets, is worth between US$100 million to US$120 million, and will be signed during the visit, the newspaper quoted an industry source as saying.

According to a source at the Russian military-industrial complex as quoted by Interfax news agency, Indonesia will place an order for two Sukhoi-27 and two Sukhoi-30.

During her trip to Russia, Megawati will also visit a Sukhoi testing base outside Moscow, Interfax added.