Indonesia seeks self-reliance in arms

Indonesia seeks self-reliance in arms

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has raised a call for the
country to become self-reliant in supplying its defense forces
with arms, munitions and equipment through close collaboration
among the armed forces, academics and industry.

He said scientists and entrepreneurs who were involved in the
cooperation would be expected to be innovative in developing a
national military arms industry.

"By working together with scientists and the business
community, we could reach a certain level of independence through
a transfer of technology," Susilo said on Wednesday in his
opening speech to mark the first Indonesian defense expo.

Building a national arms industry has been considered crucial,
as Indonesia's traditional arms supplier, the United States, has
imposed a military embargo since 1999 in response to the East
Timor tragedy.

Director General of Defense Strategy Maj. Gen. Sudrajat at the
Ministry of Defense said 70 percent of the country's military
equipment were imported from the U.S. The embargo has thus made
it difficult for Indonesia to upgrade its defense capabilities.

The country has been looking for alternative arms suppliers
over the past few years, particularly among eastern European
countries and their well-established military arms industries,
which offer a comprehensive range of combat equipment.

"Eastern European countries have offered us various forms of
cooperation. They are also ready to accommodate our needs for a
transfer of technology, more so than the U.S.," Sudrajat said.

Susilo also promised to improve the quality of the country's
defense system and heavy equipment, but underlined this would be
pursued within budgetary limitations.

He said Indonesia's vast territory and the security challenges
it faced in this age of globalization, required a sophisticated
defense system and advanced equipment to secure its many border
areas.

"A strong military is needed to prevent any threats, and to
cope with threats when they materialize," Susilo said.

The defense expo, the first to be hosted here, features around
250 participants from around the world.

The only U.S. company in the exhibition is the San Francisco-
based American Technologies Networks Cooperation, which supplies
night-vision goggles and similar products.

The largest stand in the four-day expo is Russia's
Rosoboronexport weapons supplier company, which facilitated last
year's sale of four Sukhoi fighters to Indonesia.

Countries represented in the showcase include Canada, France,
Germany, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and South
Korea.

Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said some 6,000 visitors
from the science, technology and military fields -- as well as
military industrialists -- were expected to come to the expo.

"The expo could serve as a platform to initiate business
contacts and the technology transfer that would contribute to the
development of the country's military arms industry," Juwono
said.

The expo runs from Wednesday to Saturday at Kemayoran
fairground in Central Jakarta, and is open to the public on
Saturday only, when entry will be restricted to those aged 18
years and above.