Bringing the military back in
Under the stewardship of then defense minister Prabowo Subianto, now Indonesia’s eighth President, the military embarked on a serious military hardware modernization effort.
Indonesia's military has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, modernizing its hardware and boosting its capabilities, according to a report on The Jakarta Post. The military, under President Prabowo Subianto, has made considerable strides since it retreated from politics in the late 1990s. Prabowo, now Indonesia's eighth President, spearheaded a major hardware modernization effort that has brought the military into the modern era.
The air force has been at the forefront of these changes, expanding its arsenal beyond jet fighters. Last year, Indonesia inked a deal to purchase 48 Turkish-made KAAN fighter jets, and in 2022, a US$8.1-billion agreement was signed for 42 French-made Dassault Rafale jets. The Defense Ministry has also explored non-conventional suppliers, considering China's J-10C and Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder fighter jets for procurement.
The Indonesian Navy has also seen substantial upgrades. In July last year, Indonesia secured a contract to buy two French-made Scorpene-class diesel submarines. Additionally, the navy embraced Italy's aircraft carrier ITS Guiseppe Garibaldi, now known as KRI Sriwijaya, a 41-year-old warship that will bolster the country's maritime security and disaster response capabilities.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Bringing the military back in thejakartapost.com
