Russia Reached an Agreement with Indonesia on a New Contract for Six Fighter Aircraft

On the first day of the Malaysia International Exhibition LIMA-2011, according to "Kommersant", the delegation of "Rosoboronexport" unable to agree on the delivery of six Su-30MK2 with Indonesia. The last remains only to determine the final set of weapons to these aircraft, and then to the end of this year, will sign the final contract.

On the arrangements for signing the contract for the Su-30MK2 said a source who participated in the negotiations on Russia's part. "We have already met with Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro of Indonesia and Air Force Commander Air Marshal of the country Imam Sufaat detail verbalize questions about cooperation, but now we have reached a new level - the source says," and "Even before the new year we expect to sign the final contract to supply Indonesia six Sukhoi Su-30MK2. " He noted that they will meet for two aircraft plants - in Irkutsk and KNAAPO (for a uniform load of enterprises).

Disclose the contract value interviewee refused, citing the fact that Indonesia is still not fully decided on the types of weapons that must be installed on the fighters. However, the source, who participated in the negotiations on the part of Indonesia, said that the amount of the contract is "in no case less than $ 500 million." Will the new Su-30MK2 purchased for cash or on credit, the parties did not specify. Note that the previous delivery (for example, a contract for the delivery of Su-27SKM worth about $ 300 million) in Indonesia is carried out at the expense of Russia issued the loan.

"Regardless of what form will be paid for the six Su-30MK2, this is a big success for Russia - the director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Ruslan Pukhov .- Given the increased interest of America, Indonesia, offering to buy for the money used F- 16 aircraft, Indonesia would this deal with Russia to slow down. However, it did not, that is good news."

Earlier, Indonesia has received from Russia ten fighter brand "Sukhoi." Under the contract signed in September 2003, the Air Force Indonesia received two Su-30MK and two Su-27SKM. And in 2007, purchased six aircraft - three Su-27SKM and Su-30MK2 (their delivery was completed in September 2010). All in all, as stated in late September, Mr. Yusgiantoro, by 2024, "in order to protect the country's sovereignty Indonesia is going to buy 180 fighter jets, staffed by ten squadrons of aircraft."

Rosoboronexport yesterday from the official declined to comment.

Southeast Asia's tri-border black spot

Western diplomatic officials are increasingly concerned about Islamist militant activity in the east Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. Sabah has porous and poorly policed land and maritime borders with Indonesia and the Philippines, both countries grappling with Islamist insurgencies.
Western intelligence gathering on the 750,100 km2 island of Borneo, which comprises the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Brunei and the four Indonesian provinces of Kalimantan, has been far less extensive than in the neighbouring flashpoint areas of Indonesia, the southern Philippines and southern Thailand, a US Department of State source recently told Jane's. Without citing any specific threat or incident, the source said more resources should be channelled into gathering intelligence in Borneo, particularly in Sabah.
Sabah is close to the southern Philippine islands where the military has been struggling to put down Islamist insurgencies. Since 2001, the US has supported the effort with money and military training. The US has also offered large rewards for information leading to the arrest or killing of named militants believed to be in the region. One such militant is Dulmatin, a suspected member of the regional group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and a suspect in the October 2002 Bali bombings.
JI has long used Sabah as a logistical hub through which to send recruits to training camps in the southern Philippines. Former JI commander Nasir Abbas, now a police informant, confirmed to Jane's in a recent interview that he headed Camp Hudabiya on the Philippine island of Mindanao between 1994 and 1997. He described how he always went through Sabah when travelling back to peninsular Malaysia, saying he would mostly travel illegally, bribing fisherman to ferry him overnight to Sabah's coastline. Abbas said he carried a forged Philippine passport as a backup, using the Tagalog language he had picked up from his students to enhance his false identity.

http://www.janes.com/news/lawenforcement/jtsm/jtsm070423_1_n.shtml