RI may cancel purchase of Sukhoi from Russia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will probably cancel the purchase of
\n12 Sukhhoi bombers and eight helicopters from Russia because of
\nthe prolonged economic crisis, according to Air Force Chief of
\nStaff Vice Marshal Hanafie Asnan.<\/p>\n
\"It is possible we will cancel the purchase of the
\nsophisticated warplanes because of the crisis,\" he told reporters
\nafter swearing in Vice Marshal I Gede Sudana as his deputy, to
\nreplace Vice Marshal Djatmiko, at the Air Force headquarters in
\nCilangkap, East Jakarta, on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Sudana is a former assistant to the Air Force chief of staff
\nfor intelligence affairs. Indonesia signed on Aug. 29, 1997, a
\nUS$500 million deal with Russia's Rosvoorouzhenie to purchase 12
\nFV-30K Sukhoi bombers and eight MI-70-IV helicopters.
\nConstruction of the aircraft has not yet begun.<\/p>\n
Hanafie said that if Indonesia wanted to enlarge its warplane
\nfleet it would likely purchase other, cheaper, fighters.<\/p>\n
Asked about the purchase of Hawk-100 and Hawk-200 warplanes
\nfrom British Aerospace, Hanafie said the Air Force had received
\ntwo squadrons which were now deployed in Riau, Pekanbaru.<\/p>\n
\"We are waiting for 16 more Hawk-100s and Hawk-200s which are
\nthe last of 40 ordered by Indonesia from the British company in
\n1993. The fighters are expected to arrive here in January 1999
\nand will be stationed in Supadio air base in Pontianak, West
\nKalimantan,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The first 24 arrived in Indonesia in March, 1997.<\/p>\n
Hanafie said the Air Force would reduce training activities
\nboth at home and overseas as part of its austerity measures.<\/p>\n
\"The Air Force has instead been carrying out routine training
\nto meet the minimum 10 hours of flying per week for all pilots
\nwhile joint exercises with neighboring countries, including
\nMalaysia, Singapore and Australia will be limited,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He declined to revealed the training and maintenance budget,
\nsaying \"it is small and only enough to provide minimum
\nmaintenance\".<\/p>\n
\"Because of the small maintenance budget, the use of old
\nplanes will be stopped temporarily and their pilots will be
\ndeployed to the Air Force's simulation training centers,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Air Force operates a squadron of F-16 Falcon bombers, a
\nsquadron of F-5 Tiger fighters, two squadrons of Hawk-100s and
\nHawk-200s, a squadron of V-10 Bronco turbo planes, a squadron of
\nSkyhawks, two squadrons of C-130 Hercules cargo planes, a
\nsquadron of Fokker-28 planes, a squadron of CN-235 aircraft, two
\nsquadrons of trainer planes and three squadrons of helicopters.
\n(rms)<\/p>",
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