Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., December 08, 2007 Kislev 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:51 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Indonesian military chief Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto speaking to reporters outisde of Jakarta earlier this month. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 04:20 22/10/2006 Source: Indonesia plans to buy Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent Indonesia is planning to purchase Searcher Mark-II unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Israel, according to Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander, Marshal Djoko Suyanto. Israeli sources refused to comment on these reports. The Indonesian Defense Minister, Juwono Sudarsono, said that the procurement of UAVs from another country, like Israel, was a realistic decision because similar locally-built equipment with the same technology was needed by the Indonesian defense forces. Advertisement Sudarsono explained that Indonesia had tried to develop a UAV prototype last year, but its coverage and range were limited. "We still need time and huge amounts of money to develop these aircraft both for military and commercial purposes. To upgrade the existing prototype, we still need further study, time and huge sums of money," Juwono said. The ministry's research and development agency is still studying the result of research and development of the main weaponry system for reconnaissance, aircraft and ships. The news that the predominantly Muslim Indonesia was planning to procure military equipment from Israel, a country with which it has no diplomatic ties, resulted in considerable criticism by legislators in parliament. Some legislators claimed that procuring the UAVs from Israel is in violation of laws and regulations and accused the government of ignoring required procedures. However, Djoko denied a statement by the House of Representatives that in planning the purchase of UAVs from Israel, the government had ignored the required procedures. Djoko said that the plan to purchase the reconnaissance aircraft was initiated by the TNI because its technical specifications met that of all three services. "Then we made surveys here and there, not only in one country. The surveys were conducted by a joint team with personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, the TNI's strategic intelligence agency BAIS and the ministry of defense," he said. Bookmark to del.icio.us Foreign correspondents Police probe 3 Israeli journalists suspected of unauthorized travel to enemy states. Petrol protest Gaza gas station owners refuse to accept reduced fuel supplies from Israel.   1.   I neither have no comment 04:32  |  Joseph E . 22/10/06   2.   We should be outraged too 07:30  |  Niv 22/10/06   3.   DON`T LETS ISRAEL GET THE PEOPLE`S MONEY 08:13  |  indrajaya 22/10/06   4.   Wait until that stupid Indonesian poster read this article 08:28  |  McQueen 22/10/06   5.   ...THEN SEND THE DRONES TO IRAN!!!!!! 08:47  |  PATRICK 22/10/06   6.   Indonesia is not Iran 08:56  |  Michael 22/10/06   7.   Michael, 09:18  |  Niv 22/10/06   8.   Don`t worry, Israelis 09:50  |  Arjuna 22/10/06   9.   arjuna thanks for that 10:23  |  zadok the priest 22/10/06   10.   # 7, NIV 11:13  |  indrajaya 22/10/06   11.   to no 3 Indrudjaya. 12:01  |  Danny 22/10/06   12.   Be wary 12:06  |  Brod 22/10/06   13.   you can`t sell without talking 12:16  |  randolf 22/10/06   14.   so sell! if possible even to iran 12:20  |  randolf 22/10/06   15.   It`s not the issue Niv 19:15  |  Michael 22/10/06   16.   sell it to them 07:00  |  edwin 08/12/07   17.   randolf 08:35  |  sweis Melbourne 08/12/07

Today Online Bradley's Burston: Self Test: Are you a fanatic on the Middle East? Responses: 116 Rice warns Israel against East J'lem construction Responses: 235 Defense officials: Hamas upgraded Qassam arsenal Responses: 208 Magnate in U.K. scandal: I feared charges of a 'Jewish conspiracy' Responses: 93 Yoel Marcus: Olmert wants to leave his mark as a PM with a peace agenda Responses: 49 Rosner's Domain The attack on Hanukkah (WTR) The NIE and the freedom to grumble Poll: Do you trust the new intelligence on Iran? Israel Factor: Yes to Rudy, no to Mideast mediation More Headlines 07:58 Rice warns Israel against East J'lem construction 07:22 Livni, at NATO: There is no doubt Iran is seeking nuclear arms 08:26 Magnate in U.K. scandal: I feared charges of a 'Jewish conspiracy' 08:29 Poll: Few West Bank settlers willing to leave homes for cash 19:08 Thousands come to J'lem to protest plans to divide capital 17:41 Muslim religious heads from Indonesia pay a rare public visit to Israel 20:27 Arab League head urges world to increase aid to Palestinians 17:16 Palestinians: IDF soldiers kill Gaza farmer near Israel border 17:22 IDF troops briefly detain two journalists at West Bank protest 17:02 Two Israelis arrested in Thailand for possession of 23,000 Ecstasy pills Previous Editions Select Day 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov

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