B. JAKARTA 2725
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: U.S. Air Force Deputy U/S Lemkin told the
Indonesian DefMin on February 15 that the U.S. was prepared
to help Indonesia develop its air capabilities by broadening
bilateral cooperation through sales and upgrades of F-16s and
further training and exercise opportunities. Sudarsono said
he would review the ideas. He acknowledged the quality and
cost-effectiveness of U.S. equipment, but noted tight
budgetary priorities and said airlift would take priority
over fighters. END SUMMARY.
BUILDING CAPABILITIES
2. (C) In their February 15 meeting, Deputy Under Secretary
Bruce Lemkin told Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono that the
purpose of his visit was to present a wide range of medium-
and long-term cooperation opportunities with the Indonesian
Air Force. His visit had strong interagency support in
Washington. The United States was interested in working with
Indonesia as a partner to help Indonesia meet its defense
requirements and to build a strong bilateral relationship.
Indonesian needs seemed to include assistance combating
piracy and illegal commercial activities, etc., and
assistance building capabilities in humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief. Interoperability was an added benefit
which would flow from cooperation.
3. (C) Continuing, Lemkin noted that U.S. equipment was
superior to that of other suppliers in quality and in the
support and maintenance packages that ensured sustainability
over many years. Since the lifting of sanctions two years
ago, the USG had helped Indonesia recover F-16 engines from
Singapore and obtain C-130 spare parts from Australia, to
name two examples, and had allocated $16 million in Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) assistance to provide for a program
of depot maintenance.
EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: F-16, C-130, AT-6
4. (C) Lemkin discussed several U.S. products, including:
-- F-16s: purchase of new models would give Indonesia the
same model that the United States used to protect its own
security, while mid-life upgrades of older Indonesian F-16s
could augment that capability in the medium term at reduced
cost; the F-16s would place Indonesia in line to acquire the
Joint-Strike Fighter in the future. (Reftels detail the F-16
deals under consideration.)
-- Airlift: the C-130J offered state-of-the-art
civil-military use and was proving to be extremely popular,
with orders from at least 30 countries, including some which
had not previously purchased U.S. equipment. It would
therefore offer economies of scale in pricing and servicing.
The C-27J was also available for joint cargo use.
-- AT-6: A central component of USAF and USN fleets, the
turboprop could replace Indonesia's grounded U.S.-made OV-10
light-attack fleet to enhance national air sovereignty and
perform search-and-rescue missions; U.S. and allies' orders
totaled over 1000, and the plane would be supported until at
least 2050.
TRAINING, EXCHANGE, EXERCISE OPPORTUNITIES
5. (C) Lemkin noted that Indonesia planned to participate in
the Global Hawk Capabilities Forum in Honolulu, Hawaii, in
April 2008, which would analyze information provided from
actual Global Hawk flights. Other training, exchange and
exercise opportunities which Lemkin outlined included:
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-- Air Operations Center Development, through education,
training and systems;
-- exchange of students to respective air war colleges, Air
Command and Staff College and Squadron Officer School;
-- Aviation Leadership Program (one student pilot in training
in 2008, one to be offered in 2009);
-- USAF Academy (TNI AF had been invited to send candidates
in 2008, 2009);
-- USAF Military Personnel Exchange Program (a C-130
maintenance officer in 2010, possible C-130 pilot exchange in
2013);
-- bilateral exercises (COPE INDUSA), one per year; and,
-- bi-annual Pacific Airlift Rally (which Indonesia hosted in
August 2007).
The long-term go
https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/...LhemtSbqg-EfEJVfaEy1z4VoC70nlTh0ALWMCqpa7kxzU
A decade old Wikileaks paper from 2008/2009 on Indonesia; certain interesting points to see such as future Indonesia position in line for Joint Strike Fighter aka F-35 acquisition and future participation in Exercise Red Flag
