Indonesia tank deal raises moral questions

Deutsche Welle, 5 November 2012

With Indonesia set to invest in a major tank deal with German suppliers, concerns over human rights abuses refuse to go away. There are also questions as to whether the archipelago nation needs such equipment.

The Indonesian foreign ministry has announced that the country's armed forces will buy 103 Leopard and 50 smaller Marder tanks from Germany. The orders were placed with the company Rheinmetall in Dusseldorf, Germany.

"The tanks will be delivered in stages - at the end of 2012, in 2013 and in the first half of 2014," Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Syamsuddin told journalists in Jakarta.

The deal is thought to be worth some 210 million euros (270 US dollars). The Indonesian Defense Ministry has said it will buy 40 Leopard 2A4 vehicles and 63 Leopard Revolution tanks.

A contract was due to be signed between Jakarta and Rheinmetall on Wednesday. The deal coincides with Rheinmetall's participation in an Indonesian military trade fair, the Indo Defense Expo and Forum, from November 7 to 12.

Syamsuddin made the announcement,
 saying the tanks would come in stages

Previously, the defense ministry had named the armaments company Krauss Maffei Wegmann in Munich as its supplier - something the firm had denied.

Despite those denials, the news was enough to trigger a storm of protest. Human rights organizations have sharply criticized the fact that the tanks are being procured from Germany. Valeska Ebeling of the rights group Survival International explained that her organization had strong concerns about the human rights situation in Indonesia - particularly in the region of West Papua. Survival International claims the indigenous people of the resource rich area have been suppressed since 1963.

"The German tanks could be used against by the government against its own people," said Ebeling. "We want Germany to address the issue of responsibility and human rights with Indonesia."

The opposition in Jakarta is also unhappy. Indonesian parliament representative and member of the defense commission, Helmi Fauzi, explained to DW that the Leopard tanks were not appropriate for Indonesia, being too heavy for the country's road system. In addition, he claimed, the Indonesian navy did not have ships suitable for carrying the tanks.

"Indonesia needs many more light and small tanks," explained Fauzi, who is a member of the largest opposition party the PDI-P. But while the defense commission initially saw a heated debate about the tank deal, Fauzi said, the majority were eventually in favor.

Rheinmetall is due to exhibit its wares
at a military trade fair in Indonesia

He said they were persuaded by the obsolescence of the army's existing equipment.

'A matter of status'

According to security experts, the Indonesian army was keen to buy heavy battle tanks because neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore already possessed such weapons. For the army, the possession of such weapons was important, even if only for prestige.

The Indonesian human rights organization Imparsial criticized the project. Poengky Indarti, the group's executive director, described it as a pure waste of money adding that any deal should be based on objective rather than political criteria. Transparency, said Indarti, remained paramount to prevent corruption.

Dutch rejection, change of plan

The deal is also for a number of
light German "Marder" tanks

Originally, Indonesia had planned to buy used Leopard tanks from the Dutch army. However, the Dutch parliament rejected the deal earlier this year over concerns about human rights abuses. An Indonesian army spokesperson said that there were other possibilities - namely Germany.

Opponents of the weapons deal are now relying on the German government.

"Even if the weapons deal is not negotiated directly with the German government, but with a company instead, the government still needs to give its permission," stressed Survival International's Ebeling, hoping the government would carefully consider the situation of human rights in Indonesia.

Dutch investor to support production of N219 planes

Antara News, Fri, February 17 2012

Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - Dutch investor RT ComInvestment Co.Ltd. supports the funding for the production of N219 aircraft by PT Dirgantara Indonesia, ordered by PT Nusantara Buana Air.

"The funding agreement was signed in Singapore between PT NBA and RT ComInvestment Co. Ltd. on Wednesday," Sonny Saleh Ibrahim, the president director`s assistant for quality management system and communications development of PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), said here on Friday.

He said on the same day PTDI signed a letter of intent for the order of 20 N219 aircraft and an option for additional 10 aircraft.

The signing was done on the sidelines of the Airshow in Singapore witnessed by three ministers, namely Industry Minister MS Hidayat, State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan and Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan.

PTDI in the signing was represented by its president director Budi Santoso, the director of technology and development and administrative affairs Dita Donny Jafri, the director of aerostructure Andi Alisyahbana, the director of aircraft services Budi Wuraskito and the director of aircraft integration and finance, Budiman Saleh.

"The trust given to PTDI to manufacture the N219 aircraft shows that we are really important part of air development in the country," Sonny Ibrahim, the company`s former head of rocket program, said.

The value of the contract was US$120 million. The two companies had also agreed to discuss and negotiate technical things and business aspects.

N219 is a feeder plane powered by two turboprop engines capable of carrying 19 passengers and a payload of 3,000 kilograms with a cruising speed of 213 knots.

The aircraft is now still under the process of development with a certification target in the first quarter of 2014.

The plane is designed to be able to take off and land in a short runway of 600 meter long.

On the day of the signing of the N219 contract PTDI also signed a contract with Military Airbus for the manufacturing of nine military transport aircraft C295. PTDI will contribute with a number of important components including fuselage and tail.

The C295 aircraft which is to be used by the Air Force will be delivered between 2012-2014. The aircraft will later be named CN-295.

Editor: Heru

Indonesian Military Signs $325 Million Airbus Deal

Jakarta Globe, February 15, 2012

Singapore Air Force’s F-15 and F-16 fly by each other during
the aerial  display on the opening day of the Singapore Airshow
on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Bryan van der Beek)

               

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Singapore. Indonesia on Wednesday signed a $325 million contract with Airbus Military for nine C-295 transport planes to be used for defense, logistical and humanitarian purposes.

The first plane will be sent to the Southeast Asian nation this year, with the remainder scheduled for delivery by 2014.

“This is a proud moment for our country as well as for the Indonesian aerospace industry,” said Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, at the signing of the deal at the Singapore Airshow.

“The C-295 provides the ideal capacity to respond to Indonesia’s current and future military and humanitarian transport needs,” he added.

The model is a medium-sized transport plane which can be configured for different operational purposes such as ground surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue operations.

The planes will be used for “a variety of roles including military, logistical, humanitarian and medical evacuation missions,” according to a statement.

Yusgiantoro did not rule out future purchases of the C-295, saying other branches of the armed forces were interested in the plane.

“The police for instance... are also interested in this. And you know that (the) 295 version that we ordered now is for the Air Force, and probably the army is also interested,” he said.

The deal includes a collaboration between state-owned aviation firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and Airbus Military, with Indonesia manufacturing parts for the C-295.

The partnership will allow the Indonesian firm to “grow its aerospace business as a tier-one supplier,” said PTDI Chief Executive Budi Santoso.

“This will position PTDI on the global aerospace scene and allow us to enhance our skills and workforce,” he added.

Indonesia’s defense budget totalled $6.39 billion in 2011, ranking second in Southeast Asia behind Singapore.

Agence France-Presse

Army high officials depart to Netherlands to view Leopard tanks

Dicky Christanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 01/30/2012

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Wiryantoro said a team of Army generals led by deputy Army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Budiman had departed to the Netherlands to take a closer look at Leopard tanks that the Army was interested in purchasing.

“The team is tasked with making an assessment over many aspects, one of them being to take closer look at the tanks’ real condition,” Wiryantoro told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He said the results of the visit will be given to the public once the team returned.

The Army has allocated US$280 million to purchase 100 used Leopard tanks from the Netherlands this year. However, the idea has drawn controversy, with some people criticizing the tanks as being too big and thus not appropriate for the country’s geography.

RI to purchase trainer, attack aircraft from Russia, China

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 11/13/2009 8:58 AM

Indonesia will purchase new trainer/light attack aircraft from Russia and China as part of an effort to revitalize its primary defense system, says newly sworn-in Air Force chief of staff Vice Marshal Imam Safaat.

He said the new jets, consisting the Yak-130 from Russia and the FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle from China, would replace the squadrons of British Hawk Mk-53 jets and American OV-10 Bronco.

The Air Force has 20 Hawk Mk-53, and eight turboprop-driven OV-10 Bronco aircraft that are around 30 years old.

“We plan to replace them in the next couple of years. We have done feasibility studies for the purchases, and will propose them to the government soon,” Imam said after the handover ceremony at Halim Perdanakusumah Air Force Base in East Jakarta. Imam replaced Marshal Subandrio.

It would be the first time Indonesia purchases warplanes from China and the second from Russia after the United States embargoed the supply of spare parts for its F-5E Tiger II and F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters and C-130 Hercules transport planes in 1999 due to human rights abuses mainly East Timor.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman, Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said the reshuffle in the Air Force leadership was conducted to improve its professionalism through the regeneration of leaders.

Sagom added the new Air Force chief was assigned to boost the country’s air defense system by increasing the quality of aircraft and equipment.

“It is our mission to reduce accidents during training and operational work conducted by Air Force personnel to zero,” he said.

Iman said the military aircraft had to be replaced soon because the Air Force had used the existing planes for more than 30 years.

Imam said further that the Indonesian Military had also planned to replace the old F-5E Tiger II jets.

“We expect to replace them by 2013,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Imam declined to mention the prices of the new aircraft, saying he had not yet discussed it with the government.

“They are expensive,” he said, adding the aircraft would be purchased using foreign aid.

Indonesia bought three Sukhoi fighter jets in February this year to strengthen aerial defense following a series of deadly accidents caused by outdated military aircraft.

The country now has seven Sukhoi-type fighters, all of which were purchased from Russia through a credit scheme. Three more are expected later this year.

Indonesia purchased the seven fighter jets from Russia through the seven-year credit scheme at a total price of US$335 million, but does not have to start making payments for five years.

TNI chief Gen. Djoko Santoso said the Air Force would focus on increasing the operational quality of its basic equipment and maintenance.

“That includes the improvement of the Air Force’s radar systems and air control power,” he said.

Sagom said the Air Force would also focus on improving personnel welfare, despite its limited budget, in addition to increasing safety standards for its primary weaponry defense system.

Sagom added that 70 percent of the Air Force’s budget was geared toward the welfare of personnel. The other 30 percent was for the maintenance of equipment and spare parts.

He said the Air Force budget was expected to increase to between Rp 5 trillion ($531.6 million) and Rp 7 trillion next year, up from Rp 4 trillion this year. (nia)

Indian defence IT lab in Indonesia

P. S. Suryanarayana , The Hindu, Thursday, Mar 05, 2009

SINGAPORE: India will help set up an Information Technology Lab at Indonesia’s Military Academy and participate in a defence exercise, “Garuda Shield”, for United Nations peace support operations. 

These and other professional issues figured during Army Chief Deepak Kapoor’s official visit to Indonesia last week. Indonesian Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono had told The Hindu some time ago that his country would like to draw upon India’s IT-related expertise in “network-centric warfare”. However, it is not clear whether the IT lab will focus on this aspect. The facility has an army-to-army dimension. 

On “Garuda Shield,” India’s Ambassador to Indonesia Biren Nanda told The Hindu over telephone from Jakarta that the multinational exercise would take place in Bandung in June. India, the U.S., and Indonesia would be among the key participants. Designed to enhance the peace-keeping skills of infantry units, the exercise would cover command post requirements and field operations. 

India’s increasing military exchanges and training links with Indonesia were now governed by the bilateral defence cooperation pact of 2001, as ratified by Jakarta in 2007. Mr. Nanda said counter-terror cooperation was being promoted under the rubric of a foreign-offices-led mechanism. India and Indonesia were also engaged in “coordinated naval patrolling” for maritime security, he emphasised.

PT DI to complete production of Super Puma for Air Force

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State own aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia will soon complete productions of three Super Puma helicopters ordered by the Air Force. 

PT DI had previously finished the production of seven out of the 16 Super Puma helicopters ordered by the Air Force. 

"Of the remaining nine units, three units are in the process of completion, one is 90 percent completed and is expected to fly in the next two months, and two units are 60-70 percent completed," President Director of PT DI Budi Santoso told ANTARA here on Monday. 

The orders of the 16 Super Puma NAS 332 helicopters and their spare parts from PT DI is based on a purchase contract no. 1010 in 1998. 

The completed seven helicopters had been delivered to the Air Force, and the production works of the remaining nine units had been hampered by a lack of funds. 

With the planned completion of three Super Puma NAS 332 helicopters, the Indonesian Air Force would get 10 units of its 16 orders. 

"The remaining (6 helicopters), will be modified into Super Puma II or Cougar which have newer technologies," PT DI chief said.

The Modification, which is acquired from the cooperation between PT DI and Eurocopter of France, is meant to dominate the market of helicopters special for the Air Force in the Asian reg. 

First made-in-Indonesia APCs handed to Army

Abdul Khalik, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Sat, 02/28/2009 11:11 AM  

Local pride: Army soldiers stand by armored personnel carriers (APCs) at the factory of national arms producer PT Pindad in Bandung, West Java, on Friday. The state-owned company handed over the first batch of 20 vehicles to the Indonesian Military (TNI). JP/Abdul Khalik 

In a breakthrough that could turn the country into a military equipment maker, state arms firm PT Pindad handed over Friday the first armored personnel carriers (APCs). 

The 20 APCs, part of 154 vehicles ordered by the Defense Ministry for the Army, were handed over Friday at a ceremony at Pindad's plant in Bandung, West Java. 

Officials say the production of the APCs has boosted the morale of the national defense industry to end the country's dependence on expensive imported war machines. 

"The vehicles have been tested by our experts in different fields of battle, and are proven to satisfy our needs," Defense Ministry director for infrastructure Rear Marshal Eris Heriyanto told reporters after symbolically receiving the vehicles from Pindad president director Adik Avianto. 

"With regard to quality, they match those that we have imported." 

Under the contract, worth Rp 1.1 trillion (US$90 million), the remaining 134 vehicles will be delivered by 2010. 

State banks BRI, BNI and Mandiri have together provided the financing scheme for the production, which will be paid back by the government from the state budget. 

"We will provide Rp 200 billion in standby loans for the production of 154 APCs. We will see if we can cooperate with Pindad in future projects," BRI director Asmawi Syam said on the sidelines of the ceremony. 

Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said in his speech read by Aris that the government expected Pindad to move forward to produce other military equipment to replace the country's aging weaponry. 

The Army said it would use the APCs for the country's UN peacekeeping force, infantry and cavalry. 

The six-wheel-drive vehicle, with a maximum speed of 90 kilometers per hour and maximum range of 600 kilometers, uses 70 percent local products. Only the engine is imported from French automaker Renault, Adik said. 

"This is a first in Indonesian and Pindad history, to locally produce an APC," Adik said. 

"And except for the engine, we made all the other parts. You see, we've been trying to seek local engine producers. But for now, there are no local firms capable of supplying such an engine." 

He said Renault was committed to delivering engines for the next orders. 

The quality of the APCs have been internationally recognized, proven by an order of 14 vehicles placed by Nepal, which will use the Indonesian APCs for peacekeeping missions in Cameroon. 

"The price of each of our APCs is only Rp 7 billion, while those that we import cost $1 million," Adik said. 

"That's why our production is highly competitive." 

He added the next step after the completion of the government's order for the APCs would see the company expand its production to include making war vehicles, such as amphibious tanks for the Marines, cannons and other heavy arms. 

"We believe we have the capability to produce any military equipment as long as the government supports us," he said. 

Indonesia has been dependent on foreign suppliers for its military equipment, which many fear could endanger its sovereignty. 

The dependency was proven when the US, under then president Bill Clinton, slapped a military ban on the country for alleged human rights violations, causing much of its military equipment, among the most meager in Southeast Asia, without proper maintenance or upgrades.