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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