Australia (Washington Insider Magazine) – Indonesia’s naval modernization efforts are hindered by budget constraints, industrial inexperience, and a mix of incompatible technologies, experts warn.
Key Challenges:
- Diverse Fleet Composition:
- Indonesia’s Navy operates a mix of Western, Chinese, and Russian technologies, creating logistical and interoperability issues.
- Budget Shortfalls:
- The $13.6 billion defense budget is less than half of what is needed to meet the Minimum Essential Force (MEF) plan.
- Shipbuilding and submarine concerns:
- Frigate Programs:
- Arrowhead 140 (Denmark/UK) and FREMM (Italy) contracts were signed, but financing remains uncertain.
- Submarine Expansion:
- Plans to acquire three more Nagapasa-class submarines and Scorpène-class submarines (France) face concerns over PT PAL’s ability to handle complex submarine production.
- Frigate Programs:
Expert Insights:
- Limited Fleet Size: New ship acquisitions improve individual ship capabilities, but not in sufficient numbers to offset aging warships.
- Domestic Industry Struggles: Indonesia’s shipbuilding sector faces steep learning curves, especially in submarine manufacturing.
