Military Procurement: Stealth Fighter Jet
The Vice Minister of Defense Wahyu Sakti Trenggono, as we’ve reported before, stated that the Government was considering the F-35 stealth fighter jets. It’s good to see the Government’s interest in the newest 5th generation stealth fighters. It’s about time President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration gets serious in strengthening and modernizing Indonesia’s primary weapons system (Alutsista). But the F-35 isn’t the only option if the Government is looking for stealth fighters.
Military Procurement: Sukhoi (4)
The Government has officially denied the report saying they’ve dropped the deal with Russia to purchase 11 units of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets. The Government, however, said that they’re now considering the United States’ (US) F-35 stealth jets as another option.
Military Procurement: Submarine (2)
The Sukhoi fighter jet isn’t the only Russian military equipment that Indonesia is eyeing for. The Government is also interested in purchasing the Russian Kilo Class super-silent diesel-powered attack submarine, but like the Sukhoi purchase plan, the submarine procurement plan has not materialized.
A Risky Communion
The Indonesian leadership of the Roman Catholic Church has ignored the Central Government’s request to delay the ordination of the new bishop of the Diocese of Ruteng, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). Over one thousand gathered for the celebration. Though there has not been a confirmed case of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2) in NTT, the ordination mass is seen as a massive risk.
Immobilizing People
The most catastrophic damage of the Coronavirus pandemic, perhaps, is not the number of deaths, but its greater success in immobilizing people around the globe. More countries are putting in place travel restrictions, with some taking draconian measures such as implementing a lockdown policy like the one in Italy. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo recently advised the public in Indonesia to stay at home and to avoid gatherings, but the President stated that a lockdown was not yet necessary. Still, the impact is there with people starting to limit their movement. There are now concerns on the continuity of the implementation of the simultaneous regional elections and the National Games (PON) this year.
Military Procurement: Sukhoi (3)
There’s still no official confirmation from the Government on whether they’ve dropped the deal to purchase Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. Strategically speaking, it’s better for the Government not to decide on anything at least until after the US election.
AHY’s 2024 Ambition
The new Chairman of Democratic Party Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) sets a very ambitious target for 2024. AHY, who is also the eldest son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), wants the Democratic Party to win the 2024 legislative election like how it won in the 2009 legislative election. It’s an unrealistic target given that the Party is in a declining trend. There’s also doubt that AHY can significantly boost the Party’s electability.
Military Procurement: Sukhoi (2)
Bloomberg reported about the pressure that the United States (US) exerted onto Indonesia so that the latter would drop the deal with Russia to purchase 11 units of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets worth Rp16.76 trillion. Worried about facing sanctions from the US, Indonesia reportedly decided to cancel the purchase. That said, there’s been no official confirmation from the Government.
Prabowo Leads the Polls: Implications
On March 13, Cyrus Network released the result of their electability survey in a press briefing held at the Morrissey Hotel in Central Jakarta. The Survey found the Chairman of Gerindra Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto leading among potential presidential candidates for 2024. Present in the said briefing were Cyrus Network CEO Eko David Afianto, CSIS Executive Director Philips J Vermonte, the Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Bambang Soesatyo a.k.a Bamsoet (Golkar), PDIP lawmaker Rieke Diah Pitaloka, and Gerindra lawmaker Habiburokhman.
AHY, the Dems’ New Chairman
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), the eldest son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), has been elected as the new chairman of Democratic Party to replace his father. It is an unsurprising development knowing SBY has constantly been promoting his son ahead...