Jakarta. A German envoy said Monday that Berlin was keeping its fingers crossed for more Indonesian defense deals, particularly aircraft produced by the European aerospace giant Airbus.

Speaking to the press, German Ambassador to Indonesia Ralf Beste admitted that Berlin had been deepening defense ties with the individual ASEAN member states, including via military aircraft contracts. He pointed out Indonesia’s purchases of the Airbus-made A400M military aircraft.

“The European consortium Airbus has delivered two big transport airplanes, the A400Ms, to Indonesia. We are ready to do more,” Beste told the press on the margins of an ASEAN conference.

Asked whether he was referring to new contracts, Beste replied: “That would be the hope”. The diplomat admitted that any contract would be subject to bilateral negotiations, while saying that the decision also hinges on Indonesia as the buyer. “There is an offer. We are willing to do more cooperation in the military arena. … Yes, [it is] with Airbus.”

President Prabowo Subianto earlier this year signaled that Indonesia would “perhaps negotiate four more units [of the A400Ms]”. Defense Ministry spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait told the Jakarta Globe shortly after that the government was still “exploring” the plan.

The airlifter carries heavy loads of up to 37 tons. Indonesia had used its A400M to deploy humanitarian aid to the flood-struck Sumatra late last year, marking its maiden mission.

The archipelagic country agreed to buy two units of A400M in a 2021 contract, when Prabowo was still the defense minister. Indonesia at the time inked a letter of intent on possibly buying four extra units.

Known for his military background, Prabowo had ordered the country’s defense upgrades to be in full swing as Indonesia had been operating aging planes. The Defense Ministry gets to spend no more than Rp 187.1 trillion (almost $10.6 billion) this year, and its budget is expected to rise to Rp 189 trillion ($10.7 billion) in 2027, according to the government’s budgetary plans.

Add as a preferred source on Google +