Indonesia Is Growing Military Muscles!
February 26th 2008 12:09
Indonesia, over the last few years or so, has been slowly building its military hardware for their Navy, Air Force and Army. Photos included here show some of their recent acquisitions. Should we be worried? Indonesia is, currently, on friendly terms with Australia, however, this has not always been the case, and attitudes and relations can change rapidly, while military strength cannot, it takes years to build.
PHOTO
Photo: Serka Eko Edi/Dispen AU)
How should we respond to Indonesia's rapidly growing armed forces?
Is there a quietly treading small arms race in our blotch of the South Pacific that we have chosen to ignore?
Would it matter?
Are these hardware purchases just window shop dressing?
Photo: (Jupiter Blue Aerobatic Team/ Foto:Angkasa/D.N. Yusuf)
All designed to impress the citizens of Indonesia, yet not really able to withstand a fully integrated and support/resource backed defence force, such as Australia's own military?
Or should we be making sure we are not just trying to keep up, but be well ahead in numbers and technology?
Are we just fooling oursleves, that we have the advantage and that will continue to be so, for the next 30 years, as some extraordinarily optimistic pundits believe?
Should our forces be building up faster, in areas that would best assist neighbours should they fall prey to an opportunistic nation?
How do we really compare, in strike force capability?
Troop numbers versus hi tech capability, versus good old numbers of hardware types; logistics, the how many, what of, best practise of deployment for the job etc...who really knows the answers?
Getting the feeling we have all been left out of the loop yet?
And now for something completely different...a more festive look at our near and dear neighbours!
PHOTO
enjaka Really Long Link
Well....if the Indonesian Army all looks like him...sigh...I'll surrender...with a slight struggle, don't want to appear TOO easy!
So, let us hope our government does know what it is doing! After all Howard's grandstanding, 'protecting Australia', 'keeping us safe', etc etc etc, it appears Howard had not done too much at all.
However, Indonesia certainly looks as if it has, and what we see here is but a part of it! Makes one wonder, a nation that pleaded for help, while crying poor, after that awful tsunami, we gladly gave them one billion dollars, well Howard did, without strings as to how it was spent...wonder how poor flattened Aceh looks now? The military certainly looks spiffingly good!
AN OPEN EPISTLE TO OUR PRIME MINISTER
Dear Prime Minister Rudd,
I hope you have a better understanding of what our armed forces need, and give it to them!
Start with their ruddy (sorry no pun intended!) boots!
Get them boots that do not destroy their feet!
Then get them better rifles, that are accurate and do not jam in all conditions.
Get them backpacks that don't break their backs due to bad balance!
ASK THE SOLDIERS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED!
And look at what they have to buy themselves (out of their own pockets) in order to do their job properly.
And then FIRE ALL BUREAUCRATS who have been consistantly buying this poor equipment.
INVESTIGATE WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR PERSONNEL IN SHIP AND SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION!!
There are many stories and rumours, what we see however, in the end product, can only amount to either espionage or gross incompetence, at a level never before known in our country.
Our secrets should be secure, even from friendly powers!
Our objectives should be to become self reliant in a military sense and be able to protect our neighbours against aggression and unwanted occupation.
Only then, will our voice be truly listened to, and heeded.
Let us hope you are able to prepare our nation properly, so she may safely navigate any coming turbulence and ensure the safety of our regional friends.
Let us hope, Prime Minister, that you are the man for all our seasons, fair and foul alike!
cheers
fog
PHOTO CREDITS: LINK picforum.net
Sukhoi Mk30, allegedly Indonesia's first in flight!
PHOTO
Photo: Serka Eko Edi/Dispen AU)How should we respond to Indonesia's rapidly growing armed forces?
Indo Corvettes, a fleet is building up.
Is there a quietly treading small arms race in our blotch of the South Pacific that we have chosen to ignore?
Indo C130s taxi on runway
Would it matter?
Indo anti-aircraft battery
Are these hardware purchases just window shop dressing?
Indo acrobatic team
Photo: (Jupiter Blue Aerobatic Team/ Foto:Angkasa/D.N. Yusuf)
All designed to impress the citizens of Indonesia, yet not really able to withstand a fully integrated and support/resource backed defence force, such as Australia's own military?
Indo's Navy now includes fifteen of these!
Or should we be making sure we are not just trying to keep up, but be well ahead in numbers and technology?
Indo navy fires Exocet ship killer missile
Are we just fooling oursleves, that we have the advantage and that will continue to be so, for the next 30 years, as some extraordinarily optimistic pundits believe?
Indo Corvette Sigma Class
Should our forces be building up faster, in areas that would best assist neighbours should they fall prey to an opportunistic nation?
Lovely new Indo subs!
How do we really compare, in strike force capability?
Indonesian troops...some of them...
Troop numbers versus hi tech capability, versus good old numbers of hardware types; logistics, the how many, what of, best practise of deployment for the job etc...who really knows the answers?
Hi tech Indo soldier
Big Indo mobile rockets
Indo Marines
One of the Indo Frigates
Indo Choppers
Indo OV Broncos
Indo tanks
More Indo tanks!
More Indo Rocket Launchers!
More Indo ships, stealthy ones too!
Getting the feeling we have all been left out of the loop yet?
Indo Hawkes
and more....
Fly Indo Air, it's a BLAST!!
Indo ships; slippery looking suckers in background!
And now for something completely different...a more festive look at our near and dear neighbours!
AT LAST! MARDI GRAS IN INDONESIA!!!
PHOTO
enjaka Really Long LinkWell....if the Indonesian Army all looks like him...sigh...I'll surrender...with a slight struggle, don't want to appear TOO easy!
So, let us hope our government does know what it is doing! After all Howard's grandstanding, 'protecting Australia', 'keeping us safe', etc etc etc, it appears Howard had not done too much at all.
However, Indonesia certainly looks as if it has, and what we see here is but a part of it! Makes one wonder, a nation that pleaded for help, while crying poor, after that awful tsunami, we gladly gave them one billion dollars, well Howard did, without strings as to how it was spent...wonder how poor flattened Aceh looks now? The military certainly looks spiffingly good!
AN OPEN EPISTLE TO OUR PRIME MINISTER
Dear Prime Minister Rudd,
I hope you have a better understanding of what our armed forces need, and give it to them!
Start with their ruddy (sorry no pun intended!) boots!
Get them boots that do not destroy their feet!
Then get them better rifles, that are accurate and do not jam in all conditions.
Get them backpacks that don't break their backs due to bad balance!
ASK THE SOLDIERS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED!
And look at what they have to buy themselves (out of their own pockets) in order to do their job properly.
And then FIRE ALL BUREAUCRATS who have been consistantly buying this poor equipment.
INVESTIGATE WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR PERSONNEL IN SHIP AND SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION!!
There are many stories and rumours, what we see however, in the end product, can only amount to either espionage or gross incompetence, at a level never before known in our country.
Our secrets should be secure, even from friendly powers!
Our objectives should be to become self reliant in a military sense and be able to protect our neighbours against aggression and unwanted occupation.
Only then, will our voice be truly listened to, and heeded.
Let us hope you are able to prepare our nation properly, so she may safely navigate any coming turbulence and ensure the safety of our regional friends.
Let us hope, Prime Minister, that you are the man for all our seasons, fair and foul alike!
cheers
fog
PHOTO CREDITS: LINK picforum.net
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Comment by Damo
Interesting photos.
Yet what I normally do when I am wondering about the actual capability of any army is a I go to the library and open the big book called Jane's.
They list all the armed forces of the world and their estimated weaponry. It is worth doing from time to time.
I think we moved on from possible invasions of Australian territory by Indonesia some years ago. Right no Indonesia has a greater problem trying to hold onto the empire they built up in 1960-70s as starts to decay. A regional arms may do nothing but increase the decay.
Comment by Mountain Fog
yes Janes is an excellent source for all things military, a friend of my father used to get the industry magazine.
As regards Indonesia's intentions, no I never believed they wanted to invade Oz, maybe in 50 or a 100 years time when they run out of land mass to stand upon, however, it is PNG and other small soverign states that worry me, for West Papua has suffered greatly, as
Papua now does, and we say and do nothing.
It is getting our forces to a point where they must at least respect what we have to say, instead of blithely ignoring our objections and concerns out of hand, let alone the rule of international law and human rights, which Indonesia regularly abuses.
I am intending to show a comparison of forces soon, as soon as I can get the info, free, of course!
Janes Online Services want me to pay, wanna know how much just for World Armies alone? $3,845!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As much as I would want to get the latest info, that is WAY beyond my paypacket! I have to settle for the crumbs swept off the side, but yes, I am a non paying pleb member of Janes!
cheers
fog