By Mikhail Tsyganov of both RIA Novosti in Jakarta and the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies in Moscow [Part two of Does rising Asia have to cover its head with Russian missiles?] In this manner, Russia now offers the best and most modern equipment at the most competitive price and conditions, without any political pretensions of the sort so often made these days by Western powers. Russias businesslike approach and readiness to take into consideration the interests of other countries is in a sharp contrast with American haughtiness and caprice. Russians are interested in business, not politics, and Russia has earned the reputation of the supplier of arms with the lowest political risk. Moscow has already established itself on the Southeast Asian arms markets and its presence will only expand for the foreseeable future. Russia made a real breakthrough in the area of tactical aviation in Malaysia, having sold 18 MiG-29H fighters to that country, and signed another contract for the delivery of 18 heavy Su-30MKM fighters. Indonesia acquired two Su-27SK and two Su-30MK fighters in 2003, and is currently negotiating the purchase of another eight Su-27SK and Su-30MK fighters. Indonesia has need of 48 such aircraft in total, and Russia is practically the only supplier capable of meeting this demand. Vietnam already purchased 18 Su-27SK and Su30-MKK fighters, and plans to continue such purchases in the future. Thailand is negotiating the purchase of six Su-30MKI fighters from Russia. Jet training plan At present, the Su-30MKI and Su-30MKM are the most advanced fighting planes actually available on the world market, and it is truly remarkable that the Russian Air Force has none of its own. The readiness of Russia to sell heavy modern fighters gives those countries that purchase them the ability to acquire equipment of a technological class that they could not have even dreamed of not so long ago. The Russians further offer the lighter and less expensive MiG-29 fighter, in both fully modernized and second-hand versions. These aircraft are of interest to states with weak finances such as Philippines and Myanmar (which has already purchased 12 MiG-29). The Russians have also developed the most advanced jet-engine training plane in the world, the Yak-130, and are ready to sell it to all comers. It is worth noting that the Italian M-346 trainer was based on the Russian Yak-130. Russia is selling its helicopters to all the world with a great success. The Mi-171 transport helicopters are several times less expensive than their Western counterparts and are used in 80 countries. Malaysia purchased 12 Mi-171, Indonesia two, with sales also to Myanmar and Vietnam. Moreover, Russians are ready to sell their fighting helicopters such as the Mi-35, which has proven itself in many battle situations (two have been purchased by Indonesia), as well as the new Mi-28H and the Ka-52. Finally, the Russians have the Mi-26, a transport helicopter with the greatest lift capacity in the world. Tank technology As a continental power, Russia has strong land forces and has focused its abilities on the development of armory. For this reason, Russia was able to mass produce inexpensive fighting vehicles with high combat effectiveness. The Russians made a true art of the production of such impressive fighting infantry vehicles such as the BMP-3, with its unprecedented firing power. Moreover, Russia produces inexpensive and powerful-wheeled military transport vehicles. This has made the Russian approach to the equipping of the land forces an example for other non-Western countries. It is worth noting that India and China are following the same path and using Russian tank technology as their example. Indonesia purchased 32 Russian BTR-80A armored transport vehicles, equipped with 30 mm machine guns. The marine and land forces of several states in Southeast Asia are showing great interest in the BMP-3. At the same time the Russians have created a broad range of modern deadly antitank weapons, guided artillery shells, as well as grenade launchers and rifles. There is no Western analogue to the Russian Krasnopol guided missile. With the aim of countering US supremacy on the seas, the Russians for several decades developed especially fast and powerful antiship missiles. As a result, no nation in the world aside from Russia has yet produced another supersonic antiship missile like the Granit (SS-N-19), the Moskit (SS-N-22), the Yakhont (SS-N-26) and Club (SS-N-27), which are absolutely deadly to any type of fighting ship and almost impossible to intercept. These missiles are ideal weapons for the fleets of Southeast Asia. The possible equipping of Indonesian ships with Yakhont missiles, for example, would allow the Indonesian Navy to pose a serious threat to even the most powerful naval opponent. Favorable terms It would be entirely rational for the states of Southeast Asia to take advantage of Russias readiness to engage in broad cooperation on the most favorable of terms. It is thus inevitable that purchases of Russian arms from this region will increase, as the products that Russia currently offers are the most attractive available in terms of price and effectiveness. And even more important, the acquisition of arms from Russia is accompanied with the lowest political risk and offers of a joint development of local defense industries. In the final analysis, Asia will buy arms to strengthen its own independence, and not to grow dependent on foreign powers.
Bild:Su-27 05 croped.jpg|thumb|200px|Eine russische Su-27

 Die indonesische Regierung plant, für mehrere Milliarden US-Dollar Militärtechnik aus Russland und eventuell auch aus Polen zu erwerben. Vergangenen Freitag billigte Präsident Yudhoyono den Kauf von sechs Kampfjets des Herstellers Suchoi, zwei U-Booten der Kilo-Klasse und neun Hubschrauber verschiedenen Typs in einem Gesamtwert von einer Milliarde US-Dollar bis zum Jahr 2010. Der Kauf soll durch einen Kredit Russlands vorfinanziert werden. Im Jahr 2003 erwarb das bevölkerungsreichste muslimische Land bereits zwei Su-27SK und zwei Su-30MK aus Russland.

Nach Aussage des indonesischen Verteidigungsministers Juwono Sudarsono könnte eine 2,5 Milliarden US-Dollar umfassende Anschaffung an polnische Waffenfirmen vergeben werden. Für Polen wäre es der größte Waffenexport nach dem Ende des Kommunismus. Das Land verkauft bereits seit mehreren Jahren Waffentechnik nach Indonesien. Der staatliche PZL-Konzern lieferte bereits Flugzeuge der Marke Skytruck an die indonesische Polizei, die auch für Rettungsaktionen nach der Tsunamikatastrophe eingesetzt worden waren, und elf Hubschrauber im Wert von elf Millionen US-Dollar. Im Januar kommenden Jahres soll die indonesische Küstenwache fünf Patrouillenboote von Polen bekommen. Die indonesische Armee bestellte Luftabwehrtechnik bei dem staatlichen Waffenhersteller Bumar in Polen.