This deal shows what I have stated many times since about beginning of 2021 is true. We dont know the actual deal for 6 Rafale planes, some say 600 million USD while other said 1.1 billion USD (Alman Helvast/ former Jane Defense journalist), but the figure cannot exceed that 1.1 billion USD.
Prabowo has inserted proposal about Rafale and Freem acquisition to both Bapenas and SMI, but so far those people havent given the green light yet. In April the situation will be clearer.
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This my explanation to Indonesian member in Defense Hub
Have you seen the Air Force plan meeting video in early 2021 ? I have posted the video some months ago here.
The truth is Air Force only has 8 billion USD foreign loan approval, and MRCA is only for 1.6 billion USD foreign loan (approved by Bapenas), later SMI slash it into 1.1 billion USD. That is for entire 2020-2024 period.
Total foreign loan for defense acquisition program is around 18 billion USD for 2020-2024 period which include all branches-approved by Bappenas but still has the chance to be slashed by Finance Minister. The program that has already got approval by SMI is just 5.8 billion USD foreign loan funded so far and according to AH the RMP given by SMI in 2022 budget is only able to cover some portion of that 5.8 billion USD foreign loan approval programs.
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SU 35 budget being used for this order is just statement made by France media. Actually I dont know whether Finance Minister has allocated budget for Su 35 acquisition ? If there is program that is not absorbed within one fiscal year, it can be used for the next year by Defense Minister that will be included in next year defense budget. There is definition like SAL ( sisa anggaran lebih) and there is flexibility in using it.
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Bappenas; Planning Minister
SMI: Sri Mulyani Indrawati ( Indonesia Finance Minister )
Hi Indos, just curious.. but why do you seem so salty about the Rafale purchase...? always seems to try to belittle or put a negative spin to the news (like "oh the planning minister or finance minister will not agree to the purchase, or oh they approve it but only in limited numbers, or oh they are going to slash the budget eventually, or oh it's just a Prabowo personal preference", etc), I mean I know you are in favor of the F-16 Vipers, but do you reaaally love them so badly as to unable to accept any other fighter model other than Vipers..? I mean what's so bad about the Rafale anyway..? Yeah it's expensive, but the Vipers aren't exactly cheap either... The Jordanians are planning on buying a sq of Vipers (16 units) and yet it will cost them about USD 4,2+ billion... I personally believe we will get the Rafale and we will get the KF-21 (not so sure about the F-15EX, though I'll be happy if we do get those as well)...
Here is one other thing that you seem to have conveniently forgotten or failed to mention... After the US embargo in the 90's and early 2000's... We have decided to never again depend on a single source (read: US) for all our Fighter needs... Preferably we would want to continue our relationship with Russia and Sukhoi (as we already have the personnel and infrastructure in place), however it becomes untenable due to CAATSA... so France becomes a natural substitute for Russia as their arms industries and technology are actually pretty independent of the US... KF-21 though Korean, is still heavily dependent on US tech and supply chain and is thus practically a US product... not enough to be considered in our diversification planning, but we'll stick with it for the good industrial and technological cooperation we have with SK..