Indonesian Aero News

[ComradeVortex]

According to rumour, allegedly 2 Su-35s are already under assembly in Indonesia. 1 got disassembled in the transport, and another 3 will come before 5 October.

Take this rumour with mountain of salt.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

According to rumour, allegedly 2 Su-35s are already under assembly in Indonesia. 1 got disassembled in the transport, and another 3 will come before 5 October.

Take this rumour with mountain of salt.

Yes, lets take this rumour with a lake full of salt. Such large acquisitions will be proudly announced before the first negotiations even started.

And until today there are no reports from reliable sources that confirm this rumour.

 

[Ananda]

The rumours base on:

1. The need to augment TNI-AU sooner,
2. Lower cost acquisition compare to Western Fighters.

This is also base on the rumour idea basically have two seperate Air Force (especially Fighters) for Western Indonesia and Eastern Indonesia.

• Western Indonesia will got Rafale, KF-21 (replacing F-16) as 4.5 gen MRCA and later on KAAN as 5th gen on next decade.
• Eastern Indonesia will got Su-35 (replacing older Flankers), J-10B/CE as 4.5 gen MRCA and later on Su-57 as 5th gen on next decade.

This's to concentrate logistics and maintenance western base assets and non western base assets on area. Seperate maintenance and training will also concentrate on area. This in line with TNI and MinDef thinking to make Fighters operation more imune on Geopolitical changes. It is also not completely ITAR Free as KF-21 still use large US components and also potentially KAAN.

As for rumours of 2-3 Su-35 already assemble in Hassanudin AB agree it has to be taken by huge grain of salt, as the money trails from Finance Guys not being tracked so far. I suspect it could be Su-27SKM that being refurbished in Belarus being send now. Yes some acquisition like Mi-8, Mi-17 and Ka-32 come bit silently. However a squadron of Su-35 is another story. Some argue the financing come from 3rd parties in Gulf FI. Still it has to be properly budgeted by Finance Guys for repayment scheme.

Add:
An Enthusiats already very sure on the rumours, and circulate AI rendering. Wondering how let down those fan boys if the rumours not happening. Reasonable good image in my opinion.

 

[ComradeVortex]

I suspect it could be Su-27SKM that being refurbished in Belarus being send now.

Also what I was thinking about. I initially thought we just sticked to making new paintjob and new Astra missiles for Flanker. But I guess now we're making domestic MRO for these Legacy Flankers (spare parts from abroad), especially with the "incident" involving Su-30 at Hasanuddin.

 

[Ananda]

I guess now we're making domestic MRO for these Legacy Flankers (spare parts from abroad), especially with the "incident" involving Su-30 at Hasanuddin.

There are photos on new service facility in Hassanudin AB that being build for Flankers MRO. It should be partner out with Belarusia MRO, but some rumours talk on the deal is a front for direct deal with Rosoboron to avoid CAATSA. However how big MRO that can be done in Hassanudin and which MRO still needed to be done in Belarus, still not yet publicly disclose.

There's talk that Su-30 Mk2 already conduct MRO in Hassanudin, while Su-27 still send to Belarus for MRO. This is why I suspect the rumour of Su-35 being unload in Hassanuddin is Su-27 that being returned from Belarus.

 

[Ananda]

4 IL-78-MK-90A now seems gaining momentum on the rumours. Personally as I have said on previous post, IL-78-MK-90A is more likely to happen compare to those talk of Su-35 and Su-57.

1. This type already in the TNI-AU study for long range turbofan transport and tankers, altough coming to number 3 after KC-46 and A330MRTT.
2. The amount of contract is less then 1 sq Su-35, thus more likely can be finance either by 3rd parties or domestic line.
3. Could be less controversional geopolitically then taking Su-35 while at same time cancelling F-15EX.
4. It is proven by India can be use not only Flankers but also Rafale.

So if this is taken it will be on the cost of A330MRTT, rather then A400M second batch. IL-78 also like A400M and C-130 more workable on less prepare runway relative to A330MRTT. However TNI-AU study shown MRO for A330MRTT will be more available in Indonesia as Garuda MRO already familiar with A330.

In short if this being taken then the cause in my opinion are the procurement cost of IL-78 more fitting with the budget, and secondly IL-78 has better salesman/brokerage then A330 MRTT.

Note: Edit KC-46 instead KC-57.

 

[swerve]

4 IL-78-MK-90A now seems gaining momentum on the rumours. Personally as I have said on previous post, IL-78-MK-90A is more likely to happen compare to those talk of Su-35 and Su-57.

1. This type already in the TNI-AU study for long range turbofan transport and tankers, altough coming to number 3 after KC-57 and A330MRTT.

KC-57? Is that a typo?

 

[Ananda]

KC-57? Is that a typo?

Yes, should be KC-46, don't know why I'm thinking KC-57. Already night post. It lead TNI-AU study for long range turbofan tankers few years back. Alltough negotiation lobby seems pushing more A330 MRTT vs IL-78MK-90A.

This is the summary rating on all catagories of their studies. IL-78 is at the bottom results, loosing on nearly all catagories. So if it is winning means Rosoboron sales agent manage to do better lobby then Airbus sales agent. Something quite rare, as usually Airbus sales agent doing well lobby within Indonesia market.

 

[Ananda]

Photo of new batch of Mi-35 being circulate by Keris FB and other enthusiats in local forum.



Differ from current Mi-35P and shown more resemblances with Belarus Mi-35



Seems this is shown evidance that those new batch of Mi-35, Mi-17, and KA-35 being sources through Belarus. In fact the brokerage (E- Systen Sollution) known to have strong relations with Belarus. Lukashenko already meet Prabowo twice lately in Minsk and Jakarta, and defense industrial and MRO part of the agreement.

Wondering though if trend continue, how E-System Sollution will arrange IL-78MK-90A shipment from Belarus ? As this type so far only available from VVS production line.

 

[ComradeVortex]