Indonesia received a request from Russia to deploy long-range aircraft at the Manuhua airbase on Biak Island (located in Cenderawasih Bay, northwest of New Guinea). This was reported by Janes.
Contacts between Russia and Indonesia regarding the deployment of aviation have caused concern in Australia. At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Defense of the island state Richard Marles claims that Jakarta has not yet responded to Moscow's proposal.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the authorities are seeking more information on this issue. The head of government added that they «do not want to see Russian influence in the region».
Russian officials have not commented on the Janes publication.
Abdul Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow at the independent political Lowy Institute, called Russia's request an "interesting development".
The proposed airbase is approximately 2,000 km from Guam and is suitable for Russian long-range aircraft to monitor Guam and the western Pacific.
Currently, the Long-Range Aviation of Russia is armed with Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bomber-missile carriers, as well as Tu-22M3 long-range bombers. The aircraft are designed to deliver bomb and/or missile strikes against strategically important targets located on enemy territory. Bombers can also carry nuclear weapons.
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