Buster
The SU30 is a defensive weapon. It's very long range expedient for Indonesian air force generals, who now have the ability to reach all the far flung corners of the Indonesian archipelago, in their new found chariot to serve personal business interests.
The small number, four I believe, a nominal training capability.
The F111 was a long range nuclear stike platform, bought by Menzies who was dabbling with an Australian nuclear weapons programme at the time, aswell as a stated capability to bomb Djakarta.
The disquiet about the additional F111 purchase in the 90's probably a slight carry over from the above, aswell as a deflection of heat from certain contemporary issues.
Cruise missiles in the region will excite the tiger mentality of the neighbours-Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore etc.
I think the government and the press better served labelling the missiles as a "stand off" capability as opposed to cruise missiles- with all the imperialist, colonialist connotations that will incense our tiger friends!
That said, long range missiles will be excellent for our next excursion with the USA- Tehran, Pyongpang?
