did you read something in def***talkforum, its quite make sense if the US reject our request on lighting, I think f35 request only to please some faction in dephan/TNI, not as a serious need for dephan to arms the airforce with lighting
umm yea but not really. If what def talk said is 100% accurate the UEA wont even have the chance to even ask for F-35 right? Politics change, threat change and technology change so nothing is written in the stone. But if to have F-35 mean that we have to harbour US troops or allowing P8 to use our airspace without us being able to reject or even ask the purpose of the flight in a
PEACE TIME then we might as well be looking at another alternative.
It would be nice if US can propose F15EX with good package deal (eventho we might not be able to afford it) then to propose F16V in exchange for SU-35 being blocked, why? Cause those 2 fighter are completly different fighter with different purpose/usage. Granted, we might already have the Viper purchase along side of SU-35 but to ask us to replace SU-35 with Viper can be seen as a joke.
We all hate when China try to "bully" us with numerous CCG incidents, but what some of us dont know how in the last couple years after the SU-35 contract we have seen the US "bully"/preasure thru various channels via many kementrian. Not to mention other trade and diplomatic related things, which make some of us wonder, are they trying to pressure Russia or us?
So I think what we are trying to do is first even up the playing field with US then proceed with serious talk that could make everybody happy.
when our mindef go to US, and the 2nd strong man in the country goes opposite, how can they (the US) accept our commitment as a trustable partner?
Commitement and partnership goes both ways. There is reasons why the hercules purchased gantung after Mattis resigned. We can see this as leverage to give pressure to US to get what we want, or they can see this as being not so trusty partner. Just like when people saying they see the glass half empty where the other one say its half full right?
Look, the F-35 issue might not just be a Jet fighter issue related to its spec tech. But behind that there is a trust issue both parties need to work on. Can US trust us to get our hand on one of the most advanced technology fighter in the world (not leaking or giving its information to their adversary)? On the other hand can Indonesia really trust US for her support? Imho these two questions are the real deal behind the F-35 purchase plan.