Navy's role requires modernization

Navy's role requires modernization

By Bantarto Bandoro

JAKARTA (JP): Several days after Abdurrahman Wahid was elected
Indonesia's new President, he indicated that the sea has played
an important role in the country's history. His statement should
be seen within the context of geographical configurations here,
in which the sea constitutes an important part of national
defense. In the past, the sea dimension of Indonesia's national
defense was not given appropriate attention and has never been
translated into the country's strategic policy, despite the fact
that Indonesia is one of the world's largest maritime nations.

"Bring back the supremacy of the sea" is perhaps the message
Abdurrahman wished to convey when he announced the establishment
of a ministry dealing with maritime exploration. This implies
that as a great maritime nation, Indonesia should have a strong
and effective Navy and Air Force, perhaps stronger than the Army.

Abdurrahman may have predicted that the 21st century would be
the "naval century", an era in which naval and maritime power
become an even more critical element of national power and
prestige.

His emphasis on the importance of the sea is so significant
that the Navy should initiate measures to implement his statement
and revitalize the role of the naval force in facing future
challenges. Abdurrahman's maritime policy should also stimulate
innovative thinking on the part of the Naval Staff and Command
College to develop studies on the new role and preparedness of
Indonesia's naval force in meeting future demands. The studies
should reflect the desire to sustain the operation of the naval
force in a broad environment and should be directed to building
naval forces capable of protecting national interests into the
21st century. In short, future readiness requires investment
today. Both the Navy and Marine Corps should, as a team, plan
increases in procurement, research and development.

A great task is placed upon the Navy and its staff and command
college. The Navy cannot ignore this task because regional and
domestic security is still subject to uncertainty and
vulnerability; the national security environment in which the
naval forces will play a key part is likely to change much more
rapidly than the naval forces can change themselves. Therefore,
from the start, the Navy must incorporate a great deal of
adaptability. The Navy's form and mode of operation and its
capability will certainly be driven in the large part by rapidly
advancing technology. The naval force will have to be on the
alert for significant technological changes and be ready to
exploit new technologies expeditiously.

While the President is not a navy man, and while his decision
to appoint an admiral as military chief can be interpreted as
giving the Navy an appropriate role in national defense; the
demand for a complete transformation of the naval forces is
there. Studies which explore the future environment of the naval
force are needed, including studies on how technology can be
applied in restructuring the naval forces to better meet the
challenges of that environment.

A successful performance by the Navy would require the
replacement of aging and obsolete weapons and platforms, if any.
Equipment designed and procured one or two decades ago must be
replaced or substantially modernized to ensure continued
usefulness. The Navy must also recapitalize and modernize to meet
demands of tomorrow's threats and operational concepts.

The Navy and Marine Corps will increasingly be operating and
cooperating with components of the Ministry of Defense, the
Ministry of Maritime Exploration and those of the National
Police, the Air Force and the Army in charge of specific tasks
related to maritime security.

Abdurrahman's statement implies that the Navy's plans and
programs must reflect the nation's commitment to: (1) enhance
security with effective diplomacy; (2) bolster prosperity; (3)
promote better understanding of "property rights" at sea; (4)
shape regional environment; and (5) to respond to the full
spectrum of crises.

In Southeast Asia at least, Indonesia has been and will still
be regarded as a country which has at its disposal the
capabilities to maintain regional peace and security. Indonesia's
naval force environment in the region will continue to be
characterized by instability and conflict arising from resources
and boundary disputes and trends in maritime law enforcement,
criminal activities at sea, illegal migration by sea and
terrorism.

The naval force development program would then have to be
designed to enable the force to face future regional security
challenges and threats amid fiscal constraints in a manner far
more efficient and effective than today's naval forces.

Therefore, a strong and responsive naval force is imperative
for national defense, regional stability and security, to meet
unexpected and hostile regional trends.

The President's maritime policy provides very strong grounds
for the Navy to develop new platforms, plans and program which
will effectively facilitate progress toward its goals. The time
has come for the Navy to assert itself as the most important
pillar of national defense. But one must remember that
implementing naval force capabilities will certainly require a
stable and sustained research and development program.

The Navy must put a great deal of effort into building its
image of not only being assigned to exploit the sea as space for
maneuvering, but also as an agent of development. Its programs,
plans, concepts and ideas can be pursued within the overall
framework of Indonesian foreign and defense policy.

The new government's maritime policy has given the Navy new
life and spirit to leap into the next century, though it will
need proper funding to support defense and military strategies.
However, transforming for the future and meeting today's national
and regional commitments must be balanced. The President's
maritime policy should be appraised by all, especially the Navy.

The writer is with the Centre for Strategic International
Studies' Department of International Affairs and a guest lecturer
at the Naval Staff and Command College, Jakarta.