JAKARTA. Nov 29 (Interfax-AVN) - Taking into account the interest that was shown in Russian weapons at Indo Defense-2004 Expo & Forum, which wrapped up in Jakarta on November 27, Russia could offer a comprehensive program of military-technical cooperation to Indonesia, a defense industry official said.
"We are prepared to draw up a targeted program of military-technical cooperation with Indonesia if that country makes such proposals," Nikolai Dimidyuk of the Russian state weapons agent Rosoboronexport, who is leading the Russian delegation in Indonesia, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"Indonesia showed exceptional and unprecedented interest in the weapons and military hardware on display at the exhibition," he said.
All commanders of Indonesian arms and services examined the Russian exhibits, and some of them visited the Russian area several times, Dimidyuk said. The chief of the Indonesian armed forces' staff openly said that his country will continue to buy the SU planes, he said. In the future, the country plans to buy anti-aircraft systems, naval hardware, and firearms from Russia, he said.
"All these areas of cooperation could be reflected in the cooperation program," Dimidyuk said. Indonesia wondered "how spare parts supplies will be organized, how quickly we can respond to their inquiries, and whether we can provide warranty and post-warranty servicing of the hardware to be supplied throughout its service life," he said.
Negotiations on the maintenance of the SU-30MK and SU-27SK aircraft (NATO codename Flanker for both), which had earlier been exported to Indonesia, and supplies of spare parts for them took place during the exhibition, Dimidyuk said.
"As for the navy, Indonesia is interested in small submarines capable of acting in shallow areas and in straits. The Pirania submarines of various modifications that we offered are exactly those types of submarines. The commander of the Indonesian Navy closely examined them," Dimidyuk said.
Certain interest was also displayed in ground arms, such as amphibious armored personnel carriers BMP-3S, he said.
Dimidyuk said the negotiators also discussed the modernization of both Russian and foreign-made weapons that Indonesia possesses, particularly the Slovak RM-70 rocket salvo system and Russian BMP-1armored vehicle.
"We are prepared to modernize not only Soviet or Russian weapons but also foreign weapons and adapt them for compatibility with Russian weaponry," he said.
Indonesia was particularly interested in continuing purchases of aircraft of the SU family, Dimidyuk said. In the future, cooperation in Russia's exports of anti-aircraft systems to Indonesia could become a priority, he said.
Dimidyuk said the exhibition organizers concluded that the Russian weaponry at the exhibition was beyond competition. "We did not feel any special competition at the exhibition. Probably this will come in the future, when active supplies of Russian weapons to Indonesia begin," he said.
The exhibition hosts and the Indonesian leadership displayed a very friendly attitude towards the Russian delegation, he said.