21 JUL, 15:15

Russia intent on delivering Su-35 jets to Indonesia, agency vows

According to the spokesperson for the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Valeria Reshetnikova, Moscow views Indonesia as one of its key partners in the Asia-Pacific Region

ZHUKOVSKY/Moscow Region/, July 21. /TASS/. Russia is poised to supply a batch of Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighters to Indonesia despite the pressure being exerted on this Asian-Pacific country, a spokesperson for the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Valeria Reshetnikova, told reporters at the MAKS-2021 air show on Wednesday.

"From the very beginning, the project on supplying 11 multirole Su-35 fighters to Jakarta has attracted the world community’s close attention. It’s no surprise that after signing it [the deal], the Indonesian side has come up against extensive pressure from representatives of certain states. At all possible levels, Jakarta was ‘strongly recommended’ to abandon the project. However, we confidently assert that the Russian side is intent on fulfilling this contract," Reshetnikova assured.

Japanese defense firms prosper amid futuristic tech orders, export drives

By: Mike Yeo    July 12

MELBOURNE, Australia — Japan is continuing to push its defense-industrial base to grow as the country slowly builds up its self-defense forces to counter China’s growing military.

This year’s Defense News Top 100 list, which ranks the largest defense companies in the world, is host to three Japanese firms, including Subaru Corporation (85th place with $805.5 million in defense revenue), which did not make the previous year’s list.

Other Japanese companies include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, or MHI, (32nd with $3.788 billion in defense revenue) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (51st with $2.026 billion in defense revenue). KHI made a return to the list after dropping out of the previous year’s version.

MHI has retained a clear lead as the biggest Japanese defense contractor, despite its defense revenue falling 42 percent, having made $6.57 billion in defense revenue the previous year. However, the global automotive conglomerate brought in $31.465 billion in total revenue.

The company is also collaborating on hypersonic technology research — for both a hypersonic cruise missile and a hypervelocity gliding projectile — with the government’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency.

Mogami export

Japan is also continuing low-key efforts to export defense equipment, following its first successful arms export deal since restrictive defense export laws were relaxed by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014. The move was made to broaden Japan’s defense-industrial base and make it more sustainable.


The Japanese warship Kumano is part of the Mogami class. (Japanese Defense Ministry)

That export deal, signed in August 2020, was for fixed and mobile air defense radars to the Philippines. Now Japan is targeting Indonesia’s requirement for frigates, for which it is offering the Mogami-class multirole frigate under a proposal that will see four of eight frigates for Indonesia built at shipyards in the latter country.

The Mogami class is a 3,900-ton design being built for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Three ships were already launched, and there are plans for five more. The 130-meter-long frigates are designed for missions ranging from mine countermeasures, surface and subsurface warfare, and they can deploy unmanned surface and underwater vehicles.

Indonesia recently announced it will acquire the Italian FREMM frigate from Fincantieri, but it’s unclear if Indonesia would buy the Mogami class under a different program since the Japanese ships are vastly different in size and capabilities from the Italian design.

THAILAND – JAVELIN MISSILES

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2021 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Thailand of Javelin Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $83.5 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Thailand has requested to buy three hundred (300) Javelin FGM-148 Missiles; and fifty (50) Javelin Command Launch Units (CLU). Also included are Enhanced Producibility Basic Skills Trainers; missile simulation rounds; Security Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD) Technical Assistance; Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) Project Office Technical Assistance; contractor lifecycle support; spares manuals; batteries/chargers; gunner training; ammunition officer training; OCONUS Modified Level 2 Maintenance Training; System Inspection and Check Out (SICO); and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost is $83.5 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by
improving the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally in Southeast Asia. The Javelin Weapon System will replace the obsolete 106mm Recoilless Rifles that the Royal Thai Army (RTA) acquired as part of the Military Assistance Program (MAP) from the Vietnam era. This proposed sale will allow the RTA to modernize their light anti-tank capability and maintain its current force posture, as well as enhance interoperability with the U.S. during operations and training exercises. Thailand is a strategic partner committed to contributing to regional security.

The proposed sale will improve Thailand’s capability to meet current and future threats by improving Thailand’s long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Thailand will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

Indonesia to Send 100 Engineers to South Korea to Reboot its KF-21 Participation

Our Bureau
06:03 PM, August 11, 2021

Indonesia has commenced the process to send 100 engineers to South Korea to re-start its participation in the KF-21 fighter jet project even as the issue of 700 billion won ($605.8 million) overdue payment remains unresolved.

Some 32 Indonesian engineers are undergoing administrative procedures, such as visa application, to return to the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI headquarters in the city of Sacheon, according to a press release from S Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

Starting with the 32 engineers, around 100 personnel will be back at the Sacheon plant by the end of the year after Jakarta reaffirmed its commitment to the project earlier this year.

Regarding the pending payments issue, the two countries are to hold a round of negotiations. "We will do our best to hold working-level talks as soon as possible and conclude the discussions on the payment issue," Jung Kwang-sun, heading the KF-21 program at the agency, was quoted as saying in the release.

Indonesia had withdrawn its engineers in 2020 citing COVID-related issues but speculation was rife then that Jakarta was seeking to quit the joint fighter jet development project and buy Rafale jets off-the-shelf.

Maybe you should put a link so it will be looked more than just somebody imagination.

Jakarta reaffirms interest in KF-21/IF-X; engineers returning to Korea

By Greg Waldron 12 August 2021

Indonesian aerospace engineers will return to South Korea to continue work on the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21/IF-X fighter, underlining Jakarta’s continued support of the programme. 

Thirty-two Indonesian engineers are applying for visas prior to travelling to South Korea, says South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), which oversees the KF-21 effort.

Indonesian engineers had been working at KAI’s production facility at Sacheon until March 2020. DAPA attributed their departure to the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, as well as the “non-payment of the Indonesian contribution” to development costs.

“After the launch ceremony of the KF-21 prototype held in April of this year, Korea and Indonesia mutually confirmed Indonesia’s continued participation in joint development,” says DAPA.

The roll-out of the KF-21 Boramae – previously designated KF-X – took place on 21 April, with Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto in attendance. Jakarta is expected to take 50 of the 170 examples produced.

“The two governments were discussing holding the sixth working-level meeting, but the schedule is being delayed due to natural disasters in Indonesia and the worsening of the [coronavirus] situation,” adds DAPA. “Recently, the Indonesian government reaffirmed its continued participation in the joint development of KF-21/IF-X and requested cooperation of Indonesian technical staff to return to Korea as soon as possible.”

DAPA adds that the number of Indonesian engineers working in South Korea will grow to 100 by the end of 2021. The initial batch of engineers will have to undergo two weeks of quarantine upon reaching South Korea.