Indonesia
Territory, population (fourth in the world - about 250 million people), level of economic and political development make Indonesia one of the key countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The foreign policy line allowed Jakarta to strengthen its position in the international arena, raise its status in the region and in the Islamic world. Indonesia is a secular state, with the absolute majority of the population - more than 88% - practicing Islam, which makes the country the largest Muslim state in the world.
When considering the military efforts of Jakarta, it should be borne in mind that the Indonesian leadership seeks to have such armed forces that can preserve the territorial integrity of the state located on 17,500 large and small islands of the Malacca archipelago. Sea expanses, a wide border, a motley ethnic composition (about 300 peoples live in the country), the global tendency to strengthen the Islamist underground are becoming the main sources of Indonesia's problems.
For a long time, East Timor was the main problem in Indonesia. With the support of the United States and Australia, the Indonesian army occupied East Timor in 1975. From that moment until 2002, the confrontation between the Indonesian government and the supporters of the independence of the former Portuguese colony lasted. Only in 2002 did East Timor regain its independence.
In 2005, the problem of the Aceh province was resolved. There was a civil war here for three decades. The Free Aceh movement advocated the independence of this region. The separatists, relying on the historical heritage in the form of the Sultanate of Aceh (the Muslim sultanate, which occupied a prominent place in the history of the region since the 16th century and conquered by Holland in 1904), the special Islamic traditions of the region, which from the 8th century became the center of the spread of Islam in this region, opposed secular course of Muhammad Suharto. The separatists were unhappy with Jakarta's centralization policies. In addition, they wanted to control the local economy, refusing to "feed the center" (there are rich gas and oil fields in the province). After a long confrontation, the conflict was settled. The province received the status of "special autonomy", local authorities were able to control the natural resources of the region (natural gas, oil, timber and coffee). The government withdrew troops and police forces, and released the rebels in Indonesian prisons. The separatists, under the control of international observers, laid down their arms and abandoned the idea of full independence for the province.
Another center of separatism exists in Western New Guinea (Irian Jaya). Indonesia annexed this territory in 1969. In 2003, Jakarta decided to divide the territory of Irian Jaya into three provinces, prompting protests from the local population. The Free Papua Movement, created in 1965, fights for independence from Indonesia, limiting the influx of non-native populations and economic development that disrupts Aboriginal life without the consent of local residents.
In addition, the government faces inter-ethnic and inter-religious problems. The 2000s saw a sharp rise in radical Islamism. A number of Islamist movements such as Jemaah Islamiya ("Islamic Society") have set as their ultimate goal the creation of a single "Islamic State" in Southeast Asia, which will unite a significant part of the region. The Indonesian authorities were able to bring down the first wave of Islamism, driving it deep underground, but the situation remains quite tense. The criminal situation in Indonesia has also worsened. The number of pirate attacks is constantly growing. The most dangerous area is the Strait of Malacca and the adjacent waters.
Indonesia's strategic ties with Australia have continued to grow in recent years. Indonesia has long been viewed by Australia as a major potential enemy. However, given the enormous importance of the lines of sea and air communications passing through the Malay Archipelago, its economic and military-strategic importance, now Indonesia is one of the key partners for Australia. In 2012, the two powers signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement. Australia and Indonesia cooperate in the fight against international terrorism, piracy, exchange intelligence, etc. Jakarta and Canberra take into account the fact that the growing influence of China is upsetting the previous balance of power. The two Pacific powers are strengthening military cooperation and creating the basis for joint defense-industrial projects. In 2012, Australia donated 4 C-130H Hercules transports from the Australian Air Force to Indonesia free of charge. Indonesia paid only for the work on their restoration and repair. In 2013, Australia sold 5 used C-130H military transport aircraft to Indonesia.
Indonesia's military budget for 2013 was $ 8.3 billion. Compared to the previous period, there is a significant increase in military spending (in 2004 - $ 1.3 billion, 2010 - $ 4.7 billion). This amount is about 0.8% of GDP, that is, there is an opportunity to significantly raise military spending (the average level is considered to be 2% of GDP). Indonesia is one of the least militarized countries in the world. However, in recent years, Indonesia has placed a number of major contracts for the purchase of air, sea and land weapons. The state plans to increase the military budget by 20% annually. By 2015, it will reach $ 10 billion. In addition, Indonesia's economy is the largest in Southeast Asia. According to analysts, with growth rates maintained at 6-6, 8% per year by 2030, the Indonesian economy may take 6-8 places in the world (in 2012 it was 18th).
In general, despite a number of statements by the Indonesian military that talk about a large-scale rearmament of the Armed Forces, the procurement of weapons, especially against the background of such giants as India, is not impressive. At the same time, the process of building up naval and air weapons is visible to the naked eye. In 2013, Indonesia received 6 Su-30MK2 (2011 contract). Now Indonesia has 16 Su-27s and Su-30s. In the future, new deliveries of Russian heavy fighters are possible. In 2011, Indonesia bought 16 T-50 combat trainers from South Korea. Most of the aircraft have already been delivered. In addition, Indonesia has become a partner of South Korea in the program to create a promising 5th generation fighter KF-X. Jakarta must pay 20% of the program. Seoul at the end of 2013 announced the revitalization of the project to create a national fighter jet.
Indonesian Su-30MK2
We can say that South Korea is Indonesia's second key partner in the APR. There are tens of thousands of Koreans permanently residing in Indonesia, most of whom are employed in business. There is practically no such area of the Indonesian economy where representatives of South Korea are not involved.
In 2011, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the Brazilian company Embraer for the supply of 8 EMB-314 Super Tucano combat trainers. In 2012, the Indonesian Air Force received the first 4 aircraft. In the same year, Indonesia signed a contract for the supply of the second squadron of 8 UBS EMB-314. The aircraft will perform the functions of not only training aircraft, but also light attack aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft in the fight against illegal armed groups. In 2014, Indonesia plans to purchase 24 F-16 fighters from the United States. In 2012, Indonesia signed a contract with the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for the supply of 9 military transport aircraft C-295. Delivery of 8 Apache attack helicopters is also expected. In addition, Indonesia wants to collect another batch of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters under license. In the spring of 2013, Indonesia received six Bell 412EP multi-role helicopters. The launch of assembly lines for Bell helicopters is expected, which will strengthen the helicopter component of the Indonesian Armed Forces.
The development of the Navy is proceeding at a fairly good pace. Strengthening the submarine fleet is considered the most important program. In 2011, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense bought three submarines from the South Korean shipbuilding company Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The deal amounted to $ 1.1 billion. Apparently, there will be new orders. The Ministry of Defense wants to have 12 new submarines in the Navy by 2024. Taking into account the island position of Indonesia and the strengthening of the submarine fleets of Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam and China, this decision looks quite logical. At the same time, it is obvious that in the APR there is a race of naval, including submarine, arms.
In 2011-2012. The Ministry of Defense of Indonesia bought two frigates of the Sigma 10514 project from the Netherlands. The first ship will be transferred to the Indonesian Navy in 2016. The construction of the ships is carried out according to modular technology in Western Europe with the final docking of blocks in Indonesia. In 2013, Indonesia bought various ship systems from France, including sonar, radar and communications. They will be installed on Project Sigma frigates and Project Type 209 submarines. In total, the Indonesian military plans to receive up to 20 Sigma-class frigates. In the summer of 2013, Jakarta bought three UK-built corvettes for the Royal Brunei Navy. The Sultanate of Brunei abandoned these ships. In addition, Indonesia independently builds small, stealthy X3K rocket trimarans with CFRP hulls. Lundin Industry Invest has received an order for 4 ships. The contract for the construction of the lead ship was signed in 2010. The trimaran will be armed with four anti-ship missiles and a 76mm OTO Melara Super Rapid universal automatic artillery mount. The PT Pal company (Surabaya) is building for the Navy a helicopter landing ship of the Makassar type with a total displacement of more than 11 thousand tons. Landing capacity of the ship: 500 people, 13 tanks, 2 landing boats. Aviation group - 2 helicopters. Indonesia already has two such ships. The Navy received them in 2007. They were built at the shipyard of the South Korean company "Tesun Shipbuilding" (Busan). In total, Jakarta plans to have 4 Makassar-class dock ships.
Landing helicopter dock ships of the "Makassar" type.
In 2012, Indonesia entered into an agreement with China on the supply of S-705 anti-ship missiles. Jakarta plans to equip the marines with Russian BMP-3F. Under the 2007 contract, Indonesia received 17 vehicles in 2010. In 2012, the Indonesian Marine Corps ordered a batch of 37 BMP-3F. In 2013, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the Rheinmetall Group for the purchase of 103 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks, 43 Marder 1A3 tracked infantry fighting vehicles. Delivery time 2014-2016 The first tanks and infantry fighting vehicles were delivered in September 2013. Before that, Indonesia had no heavy tanks in service. In 2012, the Ministry of Defense ordered thirty-seven Caesar 155-mm self-propelled artillery mounts for the ground forces.
Indonesia needs a strong army primarily to maintain internal stability. At any moment, an internal threat may arise: from the emergence of new hotbeds of separatism to a new wave of the Islamist movement or an externally inspired virus of the "struggle for democracy". The army is a powerful factor in stability in a country that is extraordinarily diverse culturally, ethnically and religiously. Indonesia has already lost East Timor, so Jakarta is extremely sensitive to any threats of separatism. The factor of external threat is also taken into account. Thus, more and more attention is paid to the rapidly growing military power of China. The rapid development of the economy, industrial and technological growth allow Indonesia to pay more attention to the modernization of the armed forces.
