Rosoboronexport Drops Out Of Indonesian Tender

Rosoboronexport, Russia’s leading arms manufacturer, has pulled of an Indonesian launch rocket systems tender, according to media reports. The company had offered its Smerch rocket launcher system which when the tender was issued in February but “did not meet a range of technical conditions in the tender”, the Military Industrial Courier magazine quoted rosoboronexport official Nikolai Dimidyuk as saying. “No one wants to waste time, or lead partners into delusion,” he said. “That said, we remain of the opinion that this system fully meets the requirements of the Indonesian forces in the most important criteria, fighting effectiveness”. Although a traditional Russian arms customer, it is unclear in which criteria Smerch failed to meet the Indonesian requirements. Indonesia at present has contracts with Russia for delivery of Su-27SKM fighter aircraft, Mi-17 and Mi-35 military helicopters, and BMP-3 and BTR-80 infantry fighting vehicles.