To meet the objective, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has visited several countries to seek opportunities to bolster the primary weapons system (Alutsista) for the Indonesian Military (TNI), as well as to cement any ongoing defense industry cooperation.

During a visit to Austria in October, for example, Prabowo discussed the possibility of buying Austria’s Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters. Indonesia’s purchase of second-hand jet fighters has a precedent. Back in 2012, the government decided to accept a grant of 24 F-16 C/D Block 25s from the United States government instead of buying six brand new F-16 C/D Block 52s.

After some upgrades worth around US$750 million, the 24 F-16 Block 25s now have capabilities nearing the newer Block 52s. The Indonesian Air Force has also managed to establish a second squadron of F-16 in Pekanbaru, Riau, to complement its squadron in Madiun, East Java.

The Defense Ministry, meanwhile, has expressed interest in buying a Bremen-class frigate that will be decommissioned from service by the German navy. In 2013, Indonesia bought three multirole light frigates that were previously in service with the Royal Brunei Navy. The reason was the need to have a greater presence in the country’s vast waters.

Buying used weapons systems is beneficial in terms of faster delivery time. In the case of jet fighters, their delivery may take between 12 and 24 months, while delivery of brand new products may take at least 36 months.

In their meeting in October, then-US defense secretary Mark Esper refused Prabowo’s request to buy stealthy F-35s, citing the long backlog of nine years. But the rejection could indicate that Jakarta is not high on Washington’s strategic priority list.

So let’s face it. Buying used jet fighters and upgrade packages would be a compromise between need and financial capability, as was the case in the decision to take the used F-16s. Detailed scrutiny is a must to ensure that second-hand purchases come in good shape and with considerable service life.

Singapore, regarded as the most modern military in Southeast Asia, for example, has bought used Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks from Germany, just like Indonesia did in 2012. Financially, Singapore has more wiggle room than Indonesia.  

The Defense Ministry has a budget of Rp 129.3 trillion (US$9 billion) for 2021 to modernize the TNI by procuring more jet fighters, warships and armored vehicles, on top of personnel expenditures. The shopping spree comes on the heels of rising tensions in the region, in particular over the South China Sea.

As the money comes from taxpayers – even when the funding is from foreign loans – the Defense Ministry must ensure that every rupiah spent on its Alutsista will contribute to the improvement of the TNI’s firepower.