The Biden administration is debating whether or not to supply Indonesia weaponized drones

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

Human rights violations in the country, as well as previous acquisitions of Russian weapons, are among Washington's worries.

 

According to government and defence industry officials, the State Department is considering selling armed drones to Indonesia, but concerns about human rights abuses and the country's previous purchases of Russian equipment have sparked a debate within the Biden administration about whether to approve the sale.

 

The Indonesian government is looking for a new package of armed drones to replace its outdated fighter plane fleet, however it has cast a wide and tangled net, claiming to be considering new planes from Russia, South Korea, France, and the United States.

 

Jakarta's request for armed MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones, which was confirmed by three persons with ties to the defence industry and administration, comes as Washington considers selling Qatar four MQ-9B Predator drones.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to publish on the proposed sale to Qatar, but no one had previously reported on the argument over selling armed drones to Indonesia.

For months, the State Department and the White House have been working on a new arms transfer policy that promises to place a fresh priority on human rights and civilian protection, a study that could complicate certain pending deals with nations with a history of abuses.

 

According to a defence industry official familiar with the discussions, the review and the requests from Qatar and Indonesia have contributed to a larger debate within the Biden administration about the export of armed drones and which countries should be able to acquire the capability with US assistance.
Human rights abuses have occurred in both Indonesia and Qatar, and some US diplomats are wary about transferring equipment that could be used against people.

 

The review of arms control policies is scrutinising "the relationship between human rights and arms transfers, as well as underlining the necessity of facilitating transfers where they are in the United States' national interest," according to a State Department official.

There is also doubt about whether Indonesia has the necessary regulatory systems in place to protect US-made technology, as well as whether the government will be able to sustain high-end technology in the long run.
A request for comment from the Indonesian Embassy was not returned, and a State Department official said the agency does not disclose internal debates regarding potential arms sales.

 

The possibility of selling Gray Eagle drones to Indonesia has been discussed since the Trump administration determined that the country's defence capabilities "as part of the broader Indo-Pacific strategy require drone capabilities to support naval and coast guard maritime security," according to R. Clarke Cooper, a former assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs under Trump.

 

After repeated Chinese incursions and illegal fishing around the Natuna Islands — which are within Indonesia's exclusive economic zone but also fall within China's disputed claims — frustrated Jakarta and threatened to spark a wider conflict, the US donated a dozen ScanEagle drones for maritime surveillance in 2020.

The armed MQ-1C drones would be a significant improvement over the unarmed ScanEagles, which can fly for nearly 18 hours at 19,000 feet.
At 29,000 feet, the MQ-1 can stay in the air for up to 25 hours, and it can carry more payload, such as observation packages or four Hellfire missiles.

 

However, even if Washington does not arm the drone, there is concern that providing it to Indonesia may lead to Indonesia procuring missiles from China or Russia in an attempt to put them onto American planes.
According to reports from April, Jakarta has obtained Chinese-made AR-2 air-to-surface missiles to arm its CH-4 drones.

While Jakarta and Beijing have a difficult relationship over fishing rights, Washington is concerned about their limited defence sales connections, as well as Jakarta's persistent reliance on Russia for arms, including the possibility of purchasing Su-35 fighters.

 

Despite the concerns, proponents claim that a drone sale would benefit the US geostrategically.
Indonesia has emerged as a crucial ally in the struggle with China as Washington switches its focus from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific area.
Armed drones with extensive surveillance capabilities would assist strengthen that military partnership while also preventing Indonesia from purchasing similar drones from China, Russia, or Turkey, all of which manufacture modern unmanned aircraft.

 

Indonesia has roughly 70 aircraft in its inventory, which are a mix of older Russian fighters and F-16s manufactured in the United States.
The government indicated in February that it was interested in purchasing new F-15EX fighter planes from the United States, a fresh addition to the country's wishlist that has featured French Rafale and Russian Su-35 fighter planes for several years.

 

"They enjoy shopping, but buying is a different thing," said Teal Group vice president of analysis Richard Aboulafia.
"They've never actually acquired a new Western combat aircraft," he continued, implying that the government's unwillingness to follow through might give the Biden administration pause about moving further.