Russia to sell arms to Indonesia

[Sinosphere]

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is in Indonesia to sign a deal giving his host nation a state loan of $1bn (£500m) to buy Russian arms.

Mr Putin will hold several meetings with his Indonesian counterpart, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to strengthen military and economic co-operation.

More than 100 business leaders have travelled with Mr Putin.

Correspondents say the visit is Russia's response to growing Chinese and American competition in the region.

Indonesia's armed forces are under-equipped, following years of sanctions from the European Union and the United States.

Indonesia will use the Russian cash to plug the holes in its ageing arsenal, with a shopping list including attack helicopters, submarines and amphibious tanks.

Indonesian-Russian relations have become closer since a meeting in Moscow last December, when the leaders pledged to improve economic and military ties.

Indonesia has already bought several jets from Russia. The new deal will make Moscow its main foreign arms supplier.

Regional competition

The last time a Russian leader came to Indonesia was 50 years ago, before the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Moscow was then a key Indonesian ally and the country's main arms supplier.

Russia says it does not want to return to the past, and that its new relationship with Indonesia is not about ideology but about cementing Russia's presence in a region with growing importance.

"For us the primary objective in this region is a collective security system based on multilateralism," Russian ambassador Alexander Ivanov told the BBC.

"We are ready to enhance co-operation with all interested parties to building an equitable world order," Mr Putin added in an opinion piece in The Jakarta Post.

Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono told reporters that part of the plan was "to reduce our dependency on the United States".

Money is another good reason for buying from Russia, the BBC's correspondent in Jakarta, Lucy Williamson, says.

Russian hardware is cheaper than American-made models, and Indonesia is getting a loan to buy it into the bargain, she says.

Russia also will sign agreements with Indonesia to help it revamp its mining and oil industries.

BBC News.

[alopes]

It is an interesting package indeed if the contract goes as planned.

Russia Arming Indonesia

One billion dollars in credit which has been rendered to Indonesia by Russia will be spent among other things for obtaining Russian weapons by Jakarta. Yesterday it was learned that at the present time preparation of contracts is underway for the delivery to Indonesia of 10 Mi-17 transport helicopters, 5 Mi-35 combat transport helicopters, 20 BMP-3F combat infantry vehicles and 2 “Kilo” class submarines. Jakarta also is developing plans to obtain Russian Su-30MK2 multirole fighters. As the head of Indonesia’s defense ministry, Yuvono Sudarsono, reported earlier, in the next few years his country will continue the purchase of Su fighters so that by 2009 their quantity will reach one squadron of 18 airplanes.

A protocol of entry into force of a contract for the delivery to Indonesia in 2008 – 2010 of six fighters – three Su-27SKM and another three Su-30MK2 for a total of 335 million dollars was signed at the August MAKS-2007 by Rosoboronehksport. They called this contract the largest agreement for the delivery of military product concluded between Russia and Indonesia at Rosoboronehksport.

Russian air defense systems, infantry and precision weapons, regional Sukhoy SuperJet-100 and Be-200 and Be-103 amphibious airplanes also interest Jakarta. The Russian defense industry also is interesting in the establishment of manufacturing directly in Indonesia. The Izhmash concern is studying the possibility of licensed production of Kalashnikov automatic weapons at the Indonesian Pindad enterprise. The Tula Instrument Building Design Bureau (KBP) is holding discussions about the possibility of the licensed production in Indonesia of the AGS-30 grenade launchers. Moreover, the KBP is counting on interesting Jakarta in precision “Kornet-Eh” anti-tank missile complexes and infantry grenade launching weapons.

Source: 07.09.07, Kommersant



http://www.royfc.com/cgi-bin/today/acft_news.cgi

[Sinosphere]

It is an interesting package indeed if the contract goes as planned.
http://www.royfc.com/cgi-bin/today/acft_news.cgi


Interesting post, thanks very much. :)

[alopes]

Sinosphere - Interesting post, thanks very much.

You are welcome :)
It seens we both have one similar hobby

:laugh4:

[Sinosphere]

You are welcome :)
It seens we both have one similar hobby

:laugh4:

I hope this doesn't affect the regional arms balance too much.

[alopes]

Sinosphere - I hope this doesn't affect the regional arms balance too much.

Hmmm i don´t think it´s the case.
Indonesia is in a middle development phase, it have a big population that needs jobs and new opportunities of growing.
If we look at the total area of its territory, that it have to protect, then this package is only the minimum necessary to cover the whole country.

And i think it have good relations with all neighbors don´t.... :3eyes4:

[indianguy]

Russia is expanding its influence which it has lost after the end of Cold war .

America is arming Singapore , so Russians will arm Indonesia .

[Sinosphere]

Hmmm i donīt think itīs the case.
Indonesia is in a middle development phase, it have a big population that needs jobs and new opportunities of growing.
If we look at the total area of its territory, that it have to protect, then this package is only the minimum necessary to cover the whole country.


This is probably true, I think Indonesia is starting to modernise their old military hardware, hopefully this deal would assist them in their modernisation.


And i think it have good relations with all neighbors donīt.... :3eyes4:

This is good news, having good relations with neighbours is a valuable goal of foreign policy.

[Sinosphere]

Russia is expanding its influence which it has lost after the end of Cold war .
America is arming Singapore , so Russians will arm Indonesia .


Interesting, are Singapore and Indonesia rivals? or is the deal to balance American influence in the region and Indonesia happens to be the chosen nation for the deal?

[daddy]

well i dont think indonesia is rival to singapore, and singapore is wayyy too small to be of any threat to any of its neighbours. singapore is quite insignificant really. however china is not, and despite singpaore being chinese ethnicity they chose to align with India, uncle sam, japan in exercise aimed at china.
interesting to see whehter china aligns itself with malaysia, indonesia or singapore.
i think frankly singpaore has no hcance against malaysia or indoensia. but may be ward off a wave or two of attacks until it hopes britain or usa saves it. but as is typical of bl***dy anglos, another trusted "ally" will be betrayed lol

[Abbas]

The funny thing was, when Putin signed the deal in Indonesia he had to get on his plane and head for Australia and meet PM John Howard for the Apec summit.

John Howard was probably thinking, cheers mate, nice one.

[alopes]

It means that John Howard may not like this deal ?

[mustavaris]

I hope this doesn't affect the regional arms balance too much.

It does not change it at all. Only the Australians have to pay attention and already their procurements for the years to come seem to indicate that the balance wonīt shift (much). The Sukhois will rock as long as they get the JSF, and so forth. The Indonesia is big country and these are still rather limited buyings.. they are just modernizing their forces which is nothing extraordinary and making strategical deals with the Russians.

[Abbas]

It means that Jhon Howard might not like this deal ?

I live in Australia, everytime time you mention Indonesia/Indonesians people talk about how Indonesia wants to invade australia etc!
(it wont happen)

However Bali, is in Indonesia and alot of aussies died in that bombing.

Without taking it off topic, The answer is John Howard and Most ausies were not happy with this deal.

[alopes]

I live in Australia, everytime time you mention Indonesia/Indonesians people talk about how Indonesia wants to invade australia etc!
(it wont happen)

However Bali, is in Indonesia and alot of aussies died in that bombing.

Without taking it off topic, The answer is John Howard and Most ausies were not happy with this deal.

Hmmm, this is a news for me.
Thanks for the information Shia Excellence.

yes, it appears that the aussies will get a little more wary, then.

[mustavaris]

Hmmm, this is a news for me.
Thanks for the information Shia Excellence.

yes, it appears that the aussies will get a little more wary, then.

Visit the western mil forums which have many people from down under and youīll see that they debate a lot about these matters, though one must say also that there are plenty of those who do not consider Indonesia to be an enemy.