Excerpts.
"Bolstered by his
plan to spend over US$125 billion on arms procurement by 2044, Prabowo might expect the defence agreement with Japan to encourage Indonesia’s other arms suppliers to offer more competitive deals, including technological transfer to support Indonesia’s
arms industry. Currently, Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence is selecting the follow-on to the two Dutch-designed
Martadinata-class frigates, the most sophisticated addition to Indonesia’s fleet. Prabowo might also use the defence agreement to press the Dutch for better terms if they wish to see the procurement of more
Martadinata-class frigates.
The defence agreement with Japan could even prompt Prabowo to induce South Korea into offering better terms for the
additional acquisition of Type-209
Nagapasa-class submarines. The recent sinking of Indonesia’s
Nanggala-402 submarine — refurbished in South Korea in 2012 — has put Indonesian naval procurement and technological transfer from South Korea under
scrutiny. If not for the subs, perhaps better terms could be negotiated with South Korea for the sale of KF-X/IF-X 4.5 generation fighter aircraft.
On 10 June 2021, Indonesia
signed a contract to purchase six
Bergamini-class and two ex-
Maestrale-class frigates from Italy. In addition to the Italian
Bergamini, Indonesia has been
eyeing the Danish ‘Iver Huitfeld’ and British ‘Arrowhead 140’ design from Babcock International.
Guiding this approach is the belief that Indonesia can opportunistically turn to one supplier country against another wherever the deal appears sweeter. The sale of
Mogami-class frigates will confirm the addition of Japan to Indonesia’s present list of arms suppliers."
Japan could become yet another potential arms supplier for Indonesia to utilise in search of the best possible deals.
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