The Alutsista We Desire

ANTARA/SISWOWIDODO

A row of F-16 aircraft after the departure ceremony and the readiness of troops flying to Australia to take part in a multinational military exercise, at the Iswahjudi Air Force Base, Magetan, East Java, 24 July 2018.

For the last three days, this daily has run special coverage and polls about the primary weaponry system or Alutsista.

Two general views that we can underline are the need for consistent development of Alutsista (strength posture) and that Alutsista has a strong deterrent power.

Not only during the pandemic, even outside the era of the disease outbreak, the discourse on Alutsista is not a mainstream discourse. Usually, this discourse comes to the surface when a disaster occurs — such as when the KRI Nanggala-402 sank — and there is a purchase of new Alutsista.

However, in fact, Alutsista must always live in the minds of the nation, because Alutsista is a symbol of our sincerity to defend our sovereignty and enforce a posture of strength to protect development results.

Also read:

> Quality Weaponry Weighs on Soldiers

> Weapons System Modernization needs Consistency

Not only that, in an era that has changed in recent years, we also need to look more closely at the global developments in state defense and security.

First, from the aspect of Indonesia\'s geographic structure, two-thirds of which is the form of sea, it is normal that the development of forces that have been more focused on land is shifted to the sea and then into the air. We need to build a credible sea power. With a coastline of more than 80,000 kilometers, it makes sense that we have corvettes, frigates and submarines that are commensurate with the expanse of the sea, which we must protect. Moreover, we frequently hear that the future of the economy will shift to marine resources.

KOMPAS/EDNA C PATTISINA

The Indonesian Navy Submarine KRI 401 Tjakra trained with Indonesian Navy helicopters in East Java in 2008.

After the sea, we also need to strengthen air defense. In addition to the presence of a pursuit and attack squadron of at least generation 4.5, we also have to have training aircraft and simulators to produce reliable fighter pilots. It could also be added that in the era of unmanned aircraft, unmanned aerial combat power can also be considered.

In the present-day development, due to the view that conventional warfare tends to be anathematic, not a few countries have taken the option of waging cyberwarfare. In this war genre, enemy resources are paralyzed without unnecessary non-combatant casualties.

One thing we follow with apprehension is that even though the economy — at least until before the pandemic — is improving, we are always in a tight position to build strength. The minimum essential force is scheduled to be fulfilled in 2024, but thank God it can be achieved up to 60 percent.

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^ Building Defense Industry for Self-Sufficiency

^ Issues beyond Budget

This year, for example, with a budget of Rp 134 trillion (US$9.36 billion), this budget posture is below 1 percent of gross domestic product. If this is detailed, for Alutsista it will only be at least around a third. We can make a rough estimate of how much can be budgeted for a modern submarine of the Nanggala class, which costs nearly Rp 5 trillion.

We can certainly extend the discourse on Alutsista; for example, about the domestic defense industry, technology transfers and domestic innovation. However, the abovementioned description may give a small picture of the gap between the ideal and the reality (bitterness) that exists. However, we must not give up and must continue to live up to the achievement of a national defense posture supported by a sophisticated Alutsista.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.