News Focus -- Indonesian air force to replace aging planes

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 ...