Indonesia Plans to Purchase Russian Submarines

Russia and Indonesia are considering the possibility of expanding military and technical cooperation, including supplies of Russian submarines, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on Tuesday after his meeting with new Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The two countries hope to boost inter-state trade from $3 billion to $5 billion in the next two years, Manturov said. There are plans for energy cooperation and for construction of Russian oil refineries in Indonesia. “Our Indonesian counterparts have raised this issue for the first time,” the minister said. “We are ready to discuss and develop this area.”

Another issue under discussion concerns cooperation in military supplies, Manturov said. “Indonesia already has experience in purchasing our equipment — helicopters, planes, armored vehicles and other items,” he said. "We are considering the possibility of supplying the Project 636 diesel-electric submarines (to Indonesia)," he noted.