That Rafale is there to make Russia keep their promise on their TOT offering, so we have several options........
I will oppose such move if we really intend to buy it along with Su-35. Strategically thinking, this current 10 years until 2024, should be the time to improve our defense industry into a level that can match many western nation, along with so many research conducted at LAPAN, LIPI, BPPT etc
It is better to use the money to fund LAPAN to make military satellite than buying Rafale. Remote sensing technology being put on our indigenous satellite also can cover all of our areas, so we wont need too much MPA planes. Military satellite is also needed to maximize AWACS planes capabilities during war time. The fragile moment in this region in which our country should build up their military in huge way is at 2024 above, when USA is not as strong as before, and China becomes so huge. We cannot build up massive military hardware that dont hurt our economy and current account if we dont take our current research needs and demand seriously.
This baby needs some money too.....Some money in defense budget should be used for domestic research. It was done under SBY administration, and this strategy should be continued as well. Just dont get it of
why this project should be stopped because of government budget in Lapan not enough to add another engineers. We have already had enough infrastructure for designing planes at LAPAN. The project can prepare transfer of technology from old engineer into younger ones, a generation that will likely take responsibility for IFX development beyond 2024 moment.