By Prashanth Parameswaran
A recent incident has caused some to question past decisions.
On April 28, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said the Indonesian government would review its policy on receiving primary weaponry defense system grants from other countries.
The ‘review’ comes after an April 16 incident where an F-16 fighter jet malfunctioned and caught fire during a ceremony to honor President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. The mishap involving the F-16, which was one of several that the United States has recently provided to the Indonesian military (TNI), has prompted some leading politicians and lawmakers to question the government’s policy of procuring refurbished jets to augment the country’s air defense system. They argue that Indonesia’s money may have been better spent on new aircraft to help the country avoid such technical difficulties and better compete with other countries in the region.
However, as Ryamizard emphasized in his remarks, an investigation is still ongoing and it is still unclear what exactly happened and where the blame lies.
Read the full story at The Diplomat