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| Southeast Asia |
| US aims to arm Indonesia's growing F-16 fighter fleet |
| 2012-08-25 |
| The Obama administration has proposed to sell air-to-surface guided missiles and related material to equip the growing Indonesian fleet of U.S.-built F-16 fighter aircraft. The sale would be the latest move to boost security ties with allies in a region roused by China's growing clout and assertiveness. Indonesia has requested 18 AGM-65K2 "Maverick All-Up-Round" missiles, 36 "captive air training missiles" and three maintenance training missiles, plus spares, test equipment and personnel training. The AGM-65 Maverick is designed to attack a wide range of tactical targets, including armor, air defenses, ships, ground transportation and fuel storage facilities. In a notice to lawmakers, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said, "The Indonesian Air Force needs these missiles to train its F-16 pilots in basic air-to-ground weapons employment." The United States is giving - not selling - Jakarta two dozen second-hand F-16C/D fighter planes to strengthen ties and foster what the Pentagon called a "much-needed" capability to protect Indonesian air space. The F-16s are decommissioned and no longer part of the U.S. Air Force inventory. |
| Posted by:ryuge |