INDONESIAN AIR FORCE TO REPLACE AGING PLANES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 19 (ANTARA) - Amid a tight budget, the Indonesian Air Force is planning to replace its aging Hawk MK-53 and Ov-10 Bronco warplanes while increasing the number of its four Russian made Sukhoi jet fighters to 10.

        "At present we are still waiting for the ministry of defense's decision on the substitution of OV-10 Bronco warplanes. One of the substitutes of this type is Super Tocano from Brazil. After this is finished, we will propose the substitution of the Hawk MK-53 fleet," Air Force Chief Marshal Subandrio said in Madiun, East Java, on Friday.

        The air force's plan is made amid tight budget for military spending. The Defense Ministry has decided to prioritize the maintenance of Indonesia's military main armament following the government's decision to cut 15 percent of the defense ministry's budget.

        "We give priority to maintenance and repair as the first step, although we still need to continue an in-depth study," Defense Minister Jowono Sudarsono said.

        The shrinking military budget is being taken while about 70 percent of the country's military armaments are aging and the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) is putting to rest a number of its obsolete main armaments, including planes, ships and helicopters aged more than 30 years.

        Minister Juwono said a joint study was being conducted by defense ministry and the military headquarters to decide whether to use the repaired military main armaments or buy new arms.

        After undergoing maintenance and repair, the arms would still be effective for another 15 years. However, if the maintenance and repair of aging arms would be costlier, then purchasing new ones would be done, albeit in limited number, the minister said.

        It is predicted that in the coming ten years the maintenance of TNI's armaments would cost Rp93.87 trillion (US$10.203 billion), of which Rp41.9 trillion (UA$4.5 billion) for the air force's armaments.

        Despite the tight budget, the air force is planning to replace its aging fighter planes, particularly Hawk MK-53s which are already aging. At the Iswahjudi Airbase in East Java for example, of the six MK-53s of Squadron 15, only two are in good condition to fly.

        "We will forward the proposal for their substitution in 2009. We hope we will be able to sign a contract in the same year," Air Force Chief Subandrio said.

        He said the service period of the MK-53s would expire in 2011 so that a plan for procurement of their substitution should at least be made in 2009, particularly after the proposal for the substitution of tactical warplanes OV-10 Bronco had been followed up by the ministry of defense.

        Commander of the Iswahjudi Airbase Flight Major Adam Suharto said of the six Hawk MK-53s, only two were in good condition to fly. "Their combat readiness is quite low. They need to be replaced soon."

        He said the combat readiness of MK-53s had continued to decrease because it was difficult to obtain spare parts.

        "Procurement must be done soon for at least one squadron in order to help maintain optimum combat readiness," he said.

        In the 2005-2024 period, the Air Force was planning to replace its combat and logistics (transport) planes which have been used for about 20 to 30 years, such as the OV-10 Broncos (already grounded), Hawk MK-53, F-5 Tigers and F-16 Fighting Falcons.

        Within the period, the air force is also planning to add four batteries of airborne attack deterrence, three mission and reconnaissance planes and the procurement of arms such as missiles, and warplane ammunition and armaments.

        In the meantime, it is planning to increase the number of its Sukhoi fighter jets into one squadron to be based in Makassar's Suquaron 11 Airbase.

        All infrastructure facilities of Makassar's Squadron II Airbase are now ready to accommodate six Russian-made Sukhoi Su-27/30 jet-fighters, which are expected to arrive in Indonesia in 2008 and 2009.

        "The construction of all the needed facilities including a hangar and taxiway has been completed," the chief of the Air Forces's Second Operations Command, Rear Marshal Yushan Sayuti said.

        The new hangar was finished late last year and is able to hold six Sukhoi jet-fighters. "So, there is no problem anymore as we have prepared all the needed facilities," Sayuti said.

        Subandrio said earlier that the Russian SU-30 jet-fighters were expected to arrive in Indonesia in the middle of this year. This will increase the Air Force's combat strength.

        The purchase of the Russian made Sukhois had been planned based on the Air Force's Fleet Development Program (Probangkuat) for 2005-2009.

        In the 2005 budget year, funds totaling US$310 million had been allocated for the procurement of six Sukhois. The procurement of the six warplanes will be conducted in stages in the period 2007-2009.

        Three units, with an SU-30MK armament system, will arrive in 2008. Others, with SU-27SK armament system, will arrive in 2009.

        Currently the air force already has four Sukhois consisting of two SU-27s and two MK-30s. Called Flanker, the jet-fighter is of the Sukhoi Su-27 SK Upgrade type equipped with a couple of Lyulka AL-31F engine with a booster strength of 12,550 kg each.

        The superiority of the jet-fighter is obvious from its Infra Red Search and Track (IRST) equipment in the cockpit capable of detecting the target as far as 70 km, an instrument which is not found in other jet-fighters made in the West.

        The Sukhoi is also able to carry AA-12 Adder airborne missiles which have a cruising range of 50 km, exceeding that of AMRAAM which has a cruising range of 40 km only. It also has the capacity to carry R-73 missiles which are able to hit targets on the side direction at an angle up to 70 degrees.

        For targets on land, the Sukhoi could be equipped with H-31P missiles with a cruising range of 100 km or with H-31A anti-craft missiles capable of reaching targets as far as 50 km.

        With a capacity of holding 6,000 kg of fuel, the jet-fighter is able to conduct a petrol flight as far as 1,500 kilometers for four hours from the base.

        All of the arms systems constitute the deadliest air weaponry system at present, which are reportedly more reliable than Israel's Python or AIM-9L/M Sidewinder often used in the West. (T.A014/A/HAJM/16:05/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 19-04-2008 16:26:23