Plan to buy submarines hailed

Plan to buy submarines hailed

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Analysts welcomed on Monday the Navy's plan to purchase new
submarines and warships, as its defense equipment was already
over 20 years old and had begun to deteriorate.

However, they demanded that the procurement be conducted
transparently in regards policy, financing and technical details.

"There should be a clear accountability (in regards policy) --
otherwise, maintenance would become a problem in the future,"
Kusnanto Anggoro of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He also demanded accountability in financing, that "It should
be clear where the money (to buy the vessels) comes from."

Kusnanto pointed to the purchase of two Sukhoi-27s and two
Sukhoi-30 jet fighters from Russia, which was planned in 1995 and
in 1997, but was then delayed indefinitely.

"In the end, the procurement was not well arranged. The
purchase ended up using additional money from the State Logistics
Agency," he said.

As to technical details, he said, "It should be clear what
kind of submarines the Navy is going to purchase. Are they the
best in their class?"

A military analyst from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
(LIPI), Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, said existing submarines owned by the
Navy were no longer seaworthy and for this reason, the plan to
purchase new ones was acceptable.

"Besides, the plan is in line with the government policy to
treat the country's armed forces equally," said Ikrar, saying
that the government had just bought four Sukhoi jet fighters for
the Air Force, and two Mi-35 assault helicopters for the Army.

"If both the Air Force and Army have received new equipment,
the Navy also deserves new defense equipment," said Ikrar.

Ikrar expressed his hope that the purchase of new submarines
would help boost security across Indonesia's marine territory.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
confirmed over the weekend that the Navy would purchase two
submarines at US$220 million each in 2005 and 2009.

Currently, Indonesia's Naval feet consists of only 117
vessels, including two submarines and 44 warships. Only 30
percent of the warships are in good condition.

Director General for Defensive Force Rear Marshal Lambertus
Siloy at the Ministry of Defense had said earlier that the Navy
would also purchase a total of four guided-missile destroyers at
a cost of about $145 million each in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013.

The Navy is also to purchase French-made Exocet missiles at a
cost of $140 million. Siloy, however, did not say from where the
missiles would be purchased.