Military experts hail govt's choice on Sukhoi

Military experts hail govt's choice on Sukhoi

JAKARTA (JP): Military and political analysts hailed yesterday
the government's decision to buy Russian-made Sukhoi SU-30K jet
fighters, saying the choice would boost Indonesia's international
and political clout.

Although the Russian planes cost more money, military expert
Salim Said said the decision served as proof that Indonesia was
not willing to rely on one country as its arms supplier.

"Indonesia should not become hostage to a certain country, nor
give up to pressure under the disguise of human rights," he told
The Jakarta Post.

State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar
Kartasasmita announced Tuesday that Indonesia would buy 12 SU-30K
fighters and eight MI-17-IV helicopters, ending speculation on
alternate fighters the country sought, after it canceled the
purchase of nine F-16s from the United States in May.

F-16

Indonesia canceled the F-16 deal after the U.S. Congress began
linking the purchase of the fighters with human rights issues.
Apart from the canceled F-16 purchase, Indonesia also withdrew
its participation from an international military training program
sponsored by the U.S.

Salim said additional money will probably have to be spent to
train pilots and maintenance staff, especially since Indonesia
has not operated a Russian plane in three decades.

"We may have to send pilots and technicians to Russia to learn
more about the planes," he said.

Prior to the birth of the New Order in the late 1960s,
Indonesia regularly purchased arms from the former Soviet Union.

Each SU-30K is being offered for US$34 million, $4 million
higher than the F-16.

Another military analyst, Yahya Muhaimin of Gadjah Mada
University in Yogyakarta, shared Salim's view, saying that the
modernization of Indonesia's military should not depend on the
U.S.

"People will fully back the government, which could not avoid
making the decision (to cancel the F-16) or otherwise it would
heavily rely on the U.S. for arms," said Yahya, as quoted by
Antara.

Yahya, also the dean of the university's School of Social and
Political Sciences, said political reasons were behind
Indonesia's decision to turn down the U.S. offer and buy Russian
fighters instead.

"It's hard to accept in this global era that a country
involves political issues in its trade with another country. A
country now has a lot of alternatives on who will provide goods
that best fits its expectations," he said.

Separately, House of Representatives legislator Aisyah Amini
said economic reasons were what led to the government's decision.

"The terms of purchase will give a boost to our economic
growth, particularly our non-oil exports," said Aisyah, who
chairs the House commission for defense and foreign affairs.

Ginandjar said Tuesday that in exchange for the purchase,
Indonesia would send palm oil, coffee and rubber to Russia.

Both Aisyah and Salim agreed that the Sukhoi planes would fit
Indonesia's need for jet fighters in the same league as the F-16.
Indonesia already owns 10 F-16s.

Meanwhile, political analyst Dewi Fortuna Anwar of the
National Institute of Science said she believed the government
must have made the best possible decision when it opted for the
Sukhoi fighters.

"The government must have come to the decision after it looked
at all the available alternatives," Dewi told the Post.

The other alternatives included the Russian MiG-29, the French
Mirage 2000 and the Swedish Grippen.

Dewi said the choice of the SU-30K did not surprise her
because the government had shown a lot of interest in this type
of fighter, since it was first displayed at an international air
show here two years ago.

Dewi said what surprised her most were press reports which
quoted State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie as
saying he did not think the SU-30K was superior to other
alternatives.

"As far as I remember, the press reported Habibie, after
returning from Russia, as saying he was very impressed with this
type of fighter," she said.

According to Dewi, Habibie also expressed his interest in the
Russian fighter at several discussions she attended. (aan/amd)

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