We have the responsibility to maintain our commitment and capacity in upholding the nation’s sovereignty. Despite the evolution of war, that not all conflicts need be resolved by conventional warfare.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
AFP/NICOLAS TUCAT
(FILES) This file photo taken on June 5, 2021 shows crew members standing next to a Rafale jet fighter on the deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, off the coast of Toulon. - Indonesia on February 10, 2022 ordered 42 Rafale fighter jets from France, as Paris and Jakarta seek to strengthen military ties in the facing of growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific.
One of the responsibilities in maintaining the sovereignty of a country with a large geographical area like Indonesia is the ability to defend it consistently with dependable forces.
Having adequate defense facilities and infrastructure is one of the concrete manifestations of this capability, in addition to developing human resources that are capable of operating these facilities.
It is not an easy task because of three reasons: First, the country’s large area, second, limited economic capacity, and third, the presence of other, equally important development priorities. At present, one of the urgent needs is to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. Others are related to increasing the capacity of human resources and improving public welfare, in line with the program of President Joko Widodo’s second term,.
Indonesia should not continue to be caught up in the debate between "sword and plough”. Previously, whenever there was a problem with the national defense weaponry and systems (Alutsista), observers always blamed it on buying used and old military equipment. This time, the government has taken a firm decision and decided to buy new equipment.
On Thursday (10/2/2022) in Jakarta, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly announced the sale of Rafale fighter jets and Scorpene-class submarines to Indonesia. Indonesia agreed to buy six Rafale fighter jets in the initial stage of a wider agreement to procure 42 fighter aircraft over the next few years.
It is not just the Rafale fighter jets. Only a few hours after signing the French deal, the United States also announced the planned sales of 36 F-15ID fighter jets to Indonesia. As Kompas reported on Saturday (12/2/2022), the aircraft purchase is worth US$22 billion, or around Rp 308 trillion at an exchange rate of Rp 14,000 to the US dollar.
AFP/CHRISTOPHE SIMON
(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 11, 2021 a French twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft Rafale flies in the air. – The United Arab Emirates has signed a deal for 80 French-made Rafale fighter jets, the biggest international order ever made for the warplanes, officials said on December 3, 2021 during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The government’s decision to procure the Rafale and F-15 fighter aircraft ended the long discussion over the procurement of fighter jets to replace the F-5E Tiger jets that were retired several years ago, among other things.
The military aircraft manufacturers that have expressed interested in fulfilling Indonesia's needs include Sukhoi which offered the Su-35, Saab with the JAS 39 Gripen, Lockheed Martin with the F-16 Viper, as well as Dassault Aviation with the Rafale and Boeing with the F-15EX. Indonesia has also explored the possibility of buying Eurofighter Typhoons from Austria.
From the point of view of the manufacturer and the seller, there is fierce competition, while from the buyer's point of view, there is difficulty in choosing which aircraft to buy. In addition to considerations of price, weapons support, and after-sales services, there are also the factors of technology transfers and geopolitics to consider.
With the Rafale, and later with the F-15EX if their sale is approved by the US Congress, the Indonesian Air Force will have a more solid posture, although the volume of the planned purchases may not be sufficient. No less important is that the Indonesian Air Force can recognize and operate fighter aircraft of a more sophisticated generation (4+).
We have the responsibility to maintain our commitment and capacity in upholding the nation’s sovereignty. Despite the evolution of war, that not all conflicts need be resolved by conventional warfare, there is a need for adequate deterrence. We hope that Indonesia can reorganize national security through the presence of a new military defense system.
