India Offers Naval Ops Training To Indonesia

India has offered training facility to the Indonesian Navy, including submarine operations as part of bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

During his visit to India in December, Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed with India to “conclude a substance bilateral Defense Agreement”.  Both the countries also agreed to “explore collaboration between defence industries for joint production of equipment with technology transfer.”

Details of the growing closeness emerged as a post-script to the December 2016 visit to India by Joko Widodo, Tribune India reported Wednesday.

The widening scope of relations with Indonesia presently comprise naval training facilities, including training on use of submarines, a senior functionary said.

During India's Defence Secretary Mohan Kumar’s South East Asia visit, the two countries agreed to cooperate in defence manufacturing and expand military to military cooperation. Mr. Kumar visited Indonesia on January 17-18 and Singapore on January 19.

The widening scope of relations with Indonesia shall now comprise naval training facilities, including training on use of submarines, a senior functionary said.

Indonesia has ordered three types of diesel attack submarines from Korean company Daewoo and it operates two German-made submarines. New Delhi is also looking to supply some home-grown sub-parts and assemblies to defence manufacturing units in Indonesia.

The two countries, India and Indonesia have decided to ramp up maritime cooperation which mandates both sides to draw up an MoU for cooperation in this area. Air force exercises have been added to the existing army-to-army contact between the two countries.

India already trains Vietnamese sailors in operating Kilo class submarines and its pilots on Su-30 fighter aircraft, both Russian built platforms India operates in large numbers. This move also fits into India’s larger engagement with the region as part of its ‘Act East’ policy.

India had also offered to train Bangladeshi submariners to operate Chinese Submarines last month after Dhaka aquired Chinese Ming-Class submarines.