Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI)

Total Armed Forces:

active - 297,000

reserve - 400,000

Defence Budget:

1999 - $1.553 billion

2000 - $2.271 billion

Army: Indonesian Army (TNI-AD)

active - 230,000

2 combat divisions

15 combat/combat support division equivalents

355 tanks

65 helicopters

supporting artillery/air defense guns and missiles

Navy: Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL)

active - 40,000 (including 1,000 Naval Air and 13,000 Marines)

2 SSK submarines

17 frigates

36 patrol and coastal combatants

12 mine countermeasures

26 amphibious warfare ships

18 armed helicopters for Naval Air

Air Force: Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU)

active - 27,000

108 total combat aircraft including
5 fighter/ground attack squadrons of A-4s, F-16A/B and Hawk Mk109/31/209/53
1 fighter squadron of F-5E/F

supporting air defense missiles

Paramilitary Forces

active - 195,000

Assessment:

Over the past two decades, Indonesia has built up a navy and air force that are capable of monitoring its vast archipelago but lately, these have fallen into neglect and disrepair. Currently, only 20-25% of the Navy inventory is operational. Indonesia's strategy has been to use a small number of submarines, light frigates and fast attack craft armed with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes to control the vital waterways and to counter smuggling, piracy and protect maritime resources. Internal security situation has continued to deteriorate since the socio-political fall-out from the 1997 economic crisis. The Indonesian archipelago is still wracked with religious-communal and separatist violence and tension. No power projection capabilities.

Trends:

Indonesia's steady arms build-up throughout the 1980s and much of the 1990s was severely curtailed due to the 1997 economic crisis. As the rupiah plunged to record lows and the Indonesian economy teetered on the brink of total collapse, the military was forced to cancel or indefinitely defer all new air and naval procurement. These include the planned purchase of 12 Russian Sukhoi-30 fighters and 8 Mi-17 helicopters. Also abandoned are plans to acquire submarines from Germany. Even training and operation expenses have been drastically reduced leading to concerns about operational readiness. No new defense-related orders have been made since the crisis due to immense economic and political problems. Nevertheless, the current President Abdurrahman Wahid (elected in Oct 1999)has announced plans for a naval build-up as his most important defense priority, clearly in response to the growing unrest in various parts of the archipelago, such as Aceh, Irian Jaya and the Moluccan Islands. Naval personnel will be increased to 67,000 over the next five years including the expansion of the Marine Corps by 10,000 personnel to form a third brigade. 14 new ships will be added to the fleet and some maritime helicopters will be acquired. The Army, however, will see its personnel strength substantially reduced and equipment procurement funds will be limited. What little remains of the military budget is likely to be channeled to tackling domestic problems.