Russia raises its head in IndonesiaMoscow aims to deepen strategic ties with Jakarta through arms sales, joint exercises and vocal diplomacy
By JOHN MCBETH JAKARTA, MARCH 31, 2018
http://www.atimes.com/article/russia-raises-head-indonesia/< Edited >
But in more recent years, Indonesia-Russia relations have warmed significantly, ironically because of a 15-year US arms embargo imposed on Jakarta after the killing of East Timor demonstrators in 1991 and the territory’s bloody separation from Indonesia eight years later.
While US president Barack Obama’s administration lifted the arms embargo in 2005 and the US has since delivered 24 refurbished F-16 fighters to add to nine older models, they now share the sky with 16 twin-engine Russian-made Sukhoi jets, which first entered service during the government of Megawati Sukarnoputri, Sukarno’s daughter.
The Su-27s and Su-30s are now being joined by another 11 Su-35 air-superiority fighters in a US$1.1 billion barter deal that was concluded in February, only weeks after Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto became the third airman to command the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).
Two of the combat-ready Su-35s have already been delivered and another three are expected to land in August, giving the air force a greater ability to patrol its vast airspaces. As with the initial deal, part of the cost will be paid through Indonesian exports of palm oil, rubber and other commodities.
Although their engines have half the life of a US-made F-16, the Su-35 is suited to archipelagic operations with a superior range and a combat radius of 1,500 kilometers, three times that of the American fighter.
Indonesia is only the second overseas customer after China for the fourth-generation warplane, warding off what the Russians have claimed was heavy US pressure to stall Indonesia’s military technical cooperation with Moscow.
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