Indonesia Marine Corps - Modernization
As of 2010 the Marine corps had 417 armored vehicle, but some 307 of the armored vehicle were over 30 years of age, 37 vehicles between 21-30 years and only 71 is a new vehicle between 1-10 years. A total of 35 Russian-made BMP-3F amphibious infantry fighting vehicles were deployed by the Indonesian Marines in 2010. These had been proposed to be ordered in late 2008, alongside a $1-billion loan package from Russia which was to include Mil helicopters and two Kilo-class submarines.
BTR-4 is designed for transporting personnel of mechanized infantry units and fire support in combat. APC is used to equip the units are able to conduct operations in a variety of conditions, including the conditions of use of the enemy weapons of mass destruction. APCs can be a basic vehicle for equipping rapid deployment forces and Marines. BTR can perform tasks in both day and night, in a variety of climatic conditions on roads with different surface and in cross-country. Operating temperature range of ambient air from -40 ° C to +55°C.
The average value of the BTR-4 on the contract 2009 for the supply of 420 armored personnel carriers to Iraq amounted to about $ 1.1 million per unit. The average value of the BTR-4 on the contract 2012 for the supply of 100 armored personnel carriers kits in Kazakhstan amounts to $ 1.5 million per unit.
In the end of February, 2014 in Djakarta the negotiations between Spectechnoexport management and representatives of Ministry of Defense and Naval Infantry of the Naval Forces of Indonesia were conducted. Within the negotiations the fundamental terms of the contract for the BTR-4 supply in quantity of 5 units were discussed. As a reminder, Spectechnoexport had won the tender for the purchasing armored vehicles for the purposes of Naval Forces of Indonesia offering BTR-4 manufactured by Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau.
The Draft contract was initialed by both parties. The process of its consideration for an approval is being carried out by the responsible structures of Ministry of Defense of Indonesia. It was expected that this contact would be handed over to Ukrainian party in the nearest future.
It should be noted that this contract is the first step of the Program on armored vehicles purchase by Indonesian Naval Forces. If the contract is implemented successfully, other 50 similar vehicles will be also supplied. Also worth noting is that winning in this Project is the result of difficult competitive struggle with Russian special exporters.
By December 2016 indonesia was reconsidering plans to acquire more Ukraine-built BTR-4 8x8 amphibious armored personnel carriers (APC) after issues cropped up during training activities. After concluding initial training on the amphibious vehicle, Korps Marinir (KORMAR), the Indonesian Marine Corps, reported several problems, including the APC excessively trimming at the bow while immersed in water and operating at full speed. © Five of the vehicles were delivered to Jakarta in September as part of a deal with Ukraine state-owned defense manufacturer Ukroboronprom, as Indonesia sought to replace the 100 BTR-50PK APCs it acquired from Kiev in the 1990s.
One Ukroboronprom official told Janes in November 2016, "After official acceptance we will talk about expanding technology transfers to Indonesia and about expanding the order…We know [KORMAR] has a requirement for another 50 vehicles. This could mean some of these vehicles are built in Ukraine followed by technology transfers and local production in Indonesia." The vehicle’s main weapon is a ZTM-1 30 mm cannon. It also features an AGS-17 30mm grenade launcher and a chemical, nuclear and biological filtration system.
It was originally planned to buy 55 BTR-4 to replace obsolete BTR-50 , but due to the political crisis in Ukraine, it was decided to abandon the purchase of these 50 armored personnel carriers.
On 23 April 2019 it was reported that Indonesian armed forces had purchased a batch of 21 BT-3F and 22 BMP-3F Russian-made armored vehicles. It was expected that the "newcomers" will partially replace the Soviet armored personnel carriers BTR-50PK and outdated K-61 transporters in combat formations. BT-3F will become an element of combat in the Amphibious Landing Vehicle Battalion (Yonranratfib), while BMP-3F will be an additional force in the Amphibious Tank Battalion (Yontankfib), all of which are under the auspices of the Marine Corps Cavalry Regiment. As for the BMP-3, the Indonesian armed forces are currently successfully operating more than fifty such infantry fighting vehicles, including in the "naval" modification. The system has proven itself very well during regular exercises of various sizes.
The contract for the procurement of 21 BT-3F units was the first time, specifically the amphibian field was designed for the needs of the Marine Corps, and later it was planned to replace the BTR-50 amphibious armored vehicle. While the 22 BMP-3F units are a third time procurement. Previously, twice the procurement, the Marine Corps had 54 units. Once 22 units are added, the total Marine BMP-3F would be 76 units. The addition of defense equipment is believed to be an effort to strengthen the power structure in the three Pasmar (Marines).
The contract value for this procurement is divided into two, for BMP-3F worth US $ 108 million, and for BT-3F worth US $ 67.2 million. Procurement funded by foreign loans from the 2015-2019 Strategic Plan is part of the modernization of TNI defense equipment in accordance with the national defense strategic planning to fulfill the Phase 2 (two) Minimum Essential Force (MEF ) in the 2015-2019 Strategic Plan.
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