During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jakarta, India and Indonesia strengthened their defense partnership by signing two agreements indicating an in-principle intention to purchase the 300 km air-launched surface-to-surface BrahMos missile and the 0-1 km beyond visual range Astra air-to-air missile from India.
The two countries also agreed to jointly develop the port of Sabang-Aceh, located at the mouth of the strategically important Strait of Malacca, and just 160 kilometers from India’s Great Nicobar Project, which includes a transshipment hub in Campbell Bay. With more than 23 million barrels of oil passing through this narrow canal and worth an estimated US$3-7 trillion, the Sabang Port is expected to make the choke point safer than any non-governmental or government players in the region.
Inside trades
While the government has remained tight-lipped about defense deals, Indonesia had initially planned to purchase one BrahMos battery along with 12 missiles at a cost of US$100 million. But the agreement signed today concerns two missile batteries with a total value of $200 million. Indonesia has also decided to purchase the Astra missile, which has already been integrated into Indian Su-30 MKI fighters. The quantity of Astra missiles is still to be determined, but the air-to-air weapon will be integrated into Indonesia’s SU-30 Mark 1 and 2 fighter fleet. It is understood that cost negotiations as well as contract details will be conducted soon by the Ministry of Defence.
Since 2014, the Narendra Modi government has focused on deepening ties with Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world. Given that Jakarta does not want to get caught up in the US-China competition in the South China Sea, it has reciprocated India’s outreach as Washington increasingly seeks to deal with Beijing on a one-on-one basis. Indonesia is an important player in Southeast Asia, as all the major choke points or entry routes into the South China Sea – Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, and Umbi-Wetar – lie within its territory. While a Coast Guard Agreement has already been signed between the two countries, India and Indonesia are expected to work together in the near future to contribute to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
