Since when is a false report of the RWR a
mechanical problem? Mechanical/electrical issue on both aircraft, unlikely.
In both aircraft? Each detected eachother as foreign maybe? Or something other than an aircraft was detected as a threat. Sounds to me like a IFF issue, a software problem. Which might be a 'local customization' issue, earlier their Su-27SK/30MKs weren't flying because they hadn't asked for them to be fitted with compatible radios for the Indonesian (Western equipment, I suppose) comms in use.
Or, Indonesia is indeed downplaying a intrusion of its airspace.
Well, that is Russian technology for you.
Sure, Western tech is superior, but that doesn't prevent teething problems (happens to
new aircraft in general, not exclusively to
new designs) and malfunctions from occuring.
Aircraft like the Su-30MK(the last initial is that of the country it is manufactured for, btw, IE, India has MKIs)are medium maintenance aircraft.
So? These are brand new aircraft, straight out of the factory, hence the Russian pilot in the second jet.
Certain crucial parts require more maintenance than others. You have to remember that the Russians are good at building rugged aircraft and equipment that can withstand a lot, however, when it comes to engines and avionics they lack quite a bit. Their engine technology still sucks(this is not in regards to T-V, which is marginal). Their engines are still, big, noisy, and very hot engines(in other words locking on to a Russian aircrafts exhaust for an IR shot, tends to be easier than if you try the same on US/NATO aircraft because we have thrust cooling technology on almost all of our aircraft, esp. Low Observable aircraft).
Don't see the relation with a malfunctioning RWR.
Other than that, these countries would be so much better off purchasing F-16s or F/A-18s from us. They are obviously higher maintenance, but we are significantly better at offering support for aircraft we sell to other countries than the Russians. What probably comes into play though, is that we won't sell them everything they want.
You get what you pay for and then a bit less, true (but the latter also applies to US export products, e.g. F-15S). Russia isn't "customer-service-oriented", true. But US is not selling military hardware to Indonesia... it's under embargo, right? They already got the F-16! Certainly not getting support for them, afaik the F-16s are grounded, no spares support, I think they've even been withdrawn from use entirely. Neither is Europe I think... Hawks grounded too, or not?
So they had four options: MiG-29M/M2, Su-27SK/SMK/-30MK and perhaps F-7, F-8II. They got the best and most flexible/multirole option.