Indonesian Armed Forces-the falling gaint.

Indonesian Armed Forces or Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia used to be one of the SEA giants in terms of military might.With area that included app.1000 islands/100s tribes and multitude of religious belief is it a hard work to maintain peace and security in the land.
So the military or ABRI played very paramount role in developing the nation hence the Dwifungsi concept(dual function).In short ABRI has a major role in the development fields as well in the defending the nation from various aggressions.Before the fall of P.Suharto ABRI control app half of the parliment seat-allocated to them .This kind of control worried several nations cause w/o any proper control -ABRI could staged any invasion/provocation towards anybody.History has shown that they are capable in doing just that.During the inception of Malaysia-Indonesia launched a small scale assault on Malaysian soil which resulted a numbers of MAF soldeirs killed in various attacks.The aggression act were put to stop after the US(CIA),UK(using nuke strike Vulcan as a threat),Commonwealth(AUS,NZ)managed to toppled P.Sukarno(believed to be under the Commie control).P.Suharteo were put into power by the CIA(Saddam,Noriega …are all the almost similar case)after the failed coup by the commie.

Decades past-all MIG 21,Whiskey class subs and Russian cruisers -retired.After the Vietnam war started-Indonesia equipped its armed forces with US weapons.

INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES IN THE EARLY 1990.
12 F16A/B FIGHTING FALCON (18 ON OPTION)
16 F5E/F TIGER II (FURTHER F5 FROM SAUDI AF)
18 A4E/TA 4F SKYHAWK
20 BAE HAWK MK 53
6 VAN SPJECK MISSILES FRIGATES
12 OTHER MISSILES ARMED FRIGATES
6 MISSILES GUNBOATS
2 TYPE 209 SUBS (4 ON OPTION)
500,000 ACTIVE GROUND TROOPS -KOSTRADS,KOPASSUS,MARINER,BRIMOB

This growing power seems to be a major threat at that moment for Australia,Singapore and Malaysia.By 1996 ABRI set to joined others in upgrading its weaponry.ABRI ordered 14 Parchim corvette,16 Forch LST,9 Kondor MCMV from ex East German navy.The vessels eventhough a bit dated-still could deliver a sting to anybody(Parchim the most).RAN has a almost regular basis confrontation with the ABRI naval vessels in the Australian waters.At times (80s)-ABRI a/c went inside Malaysian airspace in order to test the RMAF F5 readiness.ABRI with modern F16s could easily fooled RMAF F5E which at that moment still practice GCI.Old and dated HADR system do not help the pilots to intercept ABRI F16/F5.ABRI asked SU to develop a special SU27 for them -SU 30KI was born.A single seat multi role fighter that could deliver heavy precision loads to a far away land(Australia?).They ordered 10 initail MI17 for the special forces(6000 men)+growing numbers of locally built AS322 Superpuma/CN 235M.A significant no of new armoured vehicles were purchased-SCORPION 90,VAB APC,BMP 2.
All that changed dramaticly when the Asian Economic crisis hit hard on them.Indonesian govt were forced by the IMF(US economic warfare arm)to signed a deal which eventually could spell defeat for the proud ABRI/indonesian peoples.

ABRI-A GIANT FALLING.
Kopassus 6000 men will be reduced to app 3000-3500 men.Recently the govt asked a special team to study -a new special forces formation.Specops to be modelled after this following countries:

UK SAS REGIMENT
AUSTRALIA SAS REGIMENT
MALAYSIA GERAKHAS REGIMENT
ISREAL SAYERET MAT’KAL
US GREEN BERET
RUSSIA SPETNAZ

Most of the vessels bought from Germany -cannot be used due to parts/funds to buy parts problems.Only 4 of the Parchim are operational at the moment.Most of the old frigates have to soldier on dispite their age-due to lack of funds to buy new assets.Locally built FPB57 -only handfull were delivered .CN235 could not be delivered on time -lack of support from the new govt.

Only about 8 of the F16s are still active -the roles of air defence are taken over by recently upgraded F5E.Hawks 209 -some of it cannot be use in combat due to US refusal to sell radars,INS,ILS etc.

To be continued.