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South Korea’s T-50 Golden Eagle is one of three contenders for an advanced trainer requirement for the Indonesian Air Force © Gordon Arthur
Indonesia needs to standardise weapon platforms; the TNI presently operates 173 main weapon systems from 17 countries! For years the local shipbuilding industry has been ailing, but led by PT PAL there is cause for optimism. PT PAL has previously developed fast patrol boats, and in March 2010 the second of two new 125m-long Landing Platform Dock (LPD) ships was launched in Surabaya. The Makassar-class LPD was developed in conjunction with the Daewoo in South Korea, this company having already built two 7,300-ton LPDs for Indonesia. These four LPDs will be vital assets for domestic missions and disaster relief missions around the disaster-prone archipelago. Growing in confidence, Indonesia’s shipbuilding industry has set its sights on developing a 190m 35,000-ton helicopter carrier. PT PAL has also been enlisted to construct seven tank landing ships (LST) to replace six US-built LSTs that have been serving more than 40 years. However, the resurgence of PT PAL comes at a cost, with the once struggling company undergoing a two-year restructuring programme. The process will be severe, with up to half of the company’s 2,400 employees expected to be dismissed. In March alone, 900 jobs were cut during the rationalisation. The TNI-AL will receive a trio of CN235220 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) from PT Dirgantara after a $80 million contract was signed on 11 December 2009, bringing to six the number of such aircraft in service. The aircraft sensor suites will allow fishery and marine traffic surveillance, search-and-rescue, anti-smuggling, anti-terrorism, and antisurface and anti-submarine warfare mis-
sions. Indonesia has a huge 7.9 million square-kilometre EEZ to protect, and these new aircraft will allow retirement of the GAF N-22 Nomad aircraft fleet that has been ravaged by accidents. Indonesia fitted Chinese C-802 anti-ship missiles onto PB-57 large patrol craft in 2008, but the Navy announced it will be ordering dozens more C-802s in the future, possibly via local production. They are destined for use on fast patrol boats and Van Speijk-class frigates. Discussions also took place on purchasing the smaller C-705 anti-ship missile for fast patrol boats. Indonesia remains dependent on foreign suppliers for such sophisticated weaponry, although PT PAL is
capable of integrating weapon systems onto existing vessels. As neighbours like Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam develop submarine fleets, Indonesia is seeking to do the same. The country is reactivating plans to acquire two diesel-electric submarines by 2014. The Russian Kilo 636 and South Korean-built Type 209 had been shortlisted, but the programme was curtailed by a lack of funds. According to reports in April, this project is to be re-tendered, with PT PAL to act as local contractor for technology transfer. The 20 Russian BMP-3F infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) ordered previously are now entering service with the Marine Corps.
Up in the air
The Indonesian Air Force (TNI Angkatan Udara, TNI-AU) has down-selected three competing advanced trainer designs to replace its depleted BAE Hawk trainer fleet: the T-50 Golden Eagle from South Korea, L159B from the Czech Republic, and Yak-130 from Russia. This trio was confirmed in early August for this long-standing requirement, and a decision by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is expected before the year’s end. The TNI-AU ordered eight Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano aircraft for use in the light ground attack role. These will replace OV10F Broncos, and another eight could possi-
The Indonesian Navy previously opted for C-802 anti-ship missiles such as that pictured here, and it will be placing further orders © Gordon Arthur
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