The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), an agency under the US Department of Defense, announced the possible sale of eight Osprey aircraft to Indonesia in a July 6 statement, saying that Indonesia could receive eight MV-22 Block C Osprey aircraft and related equipment, including navigation systems and technical support services, among other products.

If approved, it will be the second time Indonesia has purchased US aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) framework, following a 2013 deal in which Indonesia paid $500 million for eight new Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and Longbow radars.

Under the FMS, partner countries have approached the US government to purchase its defense articles. The process begins with the buyer formally submitting a letter of request (LoR) that specifies detailed specifications for the defense equipment it intends to purchase from the US government.

However, two days after the announcement, President Jokowi called on Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to buy weapons from local arms and military vehicle manufacturers, namely state-owned weapons manufacturers PT Pindad, state-owned shipbuilder PT Pal and aircraft manufacturer Dirgantara Indonesia.

"The Defense Ministry should buy locally from DI, Pindad and PAL. They can pay in cash here. They can use the state budget to procure locally made products. I believe the defense minister knows this very well," President Jokowi said on Wednesday last week.

Senior officials at the Defense Ministry have appeared to distance themselves from the deal with present and former ministry officials declining to confirm if the purchase was in the government’s plans.

“The purchase of the [Osprey] aircraft is not included in the plan for the development of primary defense system,” said Defense Ministry secretary-general Brig. Gen. Ignatius Eko Djoko Purwanto.

Vice Adm. (ret.) Agus Setiadji, a former Defense Ministry secretary-general, said in a statement that only the US had said the deal was on the table.

Agus maintained that the procurement of primary weaponry was a lengthy process that involved detailed planning, which was carefully deliberated by the Defense Ministry.

With the possible sale of the Osprey aircraft, the US appears to be trying to make inroads into Indonesia’s defense sector, following recent efforts by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to procure weapons from Russia and China.

Prabowo traveled to Russia on June 23, his second visit to the country in 2020, to meet with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin. He also attended Russia’s Victory Day Parade in Moscow, where he met with China’s Defense Minister Wei Fenghe.

“The US is clearly paying attention to our close relationship with Russia and China in terms of primary weaponry system [modernization]. It could be one of the US’ efforts to reduce the distance in its relationship [with Indonesia],” said Anton Aliabbas, defense analyst and senior fellow of human rights and security sector reform watchdog Imparsial.

Curie Maharani of BINUS University, meanwhile, highlighted the potential geopolitical interests behind the possible deal, saying that the sale of Osprey to Indonesia could be part of the US’ strategy to safeguard its interests in the Indo-Pacific region, while Indonesia also faces the immediate external threat of flare-ups along its maritime borders with China.

“By providing the Ospreys, the US can ensure Indonesia can improve its capabilities to stage amphibious operations and deliver humanitarian assistance or disaster relief,” she said.

In a statement, the DSCA emphasized that the proposed sale would support the US’ foreign policy goals and national security objectives. “It is vital to US national interest to assist Indonesia in developing and maintaining a strong and effective self-defense policy,” the agency said.

The proposed sale is not expected to change the “basic military balance” in Southeast Asia, and Indonesia is not expected to face any difficulties in integrating the Ospreys into its armed forces, the statement read, adding that it would also improve Jakarta’s humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

“The proposed sale of aircraft and support will enhance Indonesia’s humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities and support amphibious operations. This sale will promote burden sharing and interoperability with US Forces,” the statement read.

The proposed sale will be subject to a 30-day notification period to the US Congress. Following the process, the US government will be ready to extend a letter of offer and acceptance to the government of Indonesia and finalize the technical and administrative details of the sale, a US Department of State official said via email in response to an inquiry from The Jakarta Post regarding the deal.