Sukhoi fighter deal signed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will fund the purchase of Russian
\nSukhoi jet fighters and helicopters through a counter-purchase
\ndeal worth US$500 million, a senior minister said yesterday.<\/p>\n
State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita revealed that a letter of agreement was signed
\nduring his visit to Moscow on Aug. 29 between the Indonesian
\nArmed Forces (ABRI) and the Russian Federal State Unitary
\nEnterprise Rosvoorouzhenie.<\/p>\n
Signing on behalf of ABRI were assistant for planning and
\nbudget of the Army Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, Commander in Chief
\nof National Air Defense Command Air Vice Marshal M. Koesbini and
\nrepresentative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Aidil Juzar.<\/p>\n
\"Russia has agreed to a total counter-purchase deal after
\ntough negotiations... Russia eventually agreed to import our
\ngoods which have equal value to our arms import,\" Ginandjar told
\njournalists after meeting with President Soeharto at his
\nresidence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The President supports the policy,\" Ginandjar added.<\/p>\n
In the agreement Indonesia listed 40 commodities to exchange
\nwith Russia.<\/p>\n
These include rubber, textiles, the national Timor car, palm
\noil, electronic goods, soaps, toys, forklifts, cigarettes,
\nspices, bicycles, rattan and wooden furniture, cosmetics, office
\nsupplies and stationery.<\/p>\n
\"We'll make a 20 percent down payment after the contracts go
\ninto effect this month,\" disclosed Ginandjar who lead the team
\nthat went to Moscow last month.<\/p>\n
Indonesian officials had earlier expected an offset deal from
\nthe purchase.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie said
\nlast month that it was reasonable to expect a 35 percent offset
\ndeal from the purchase.<\/p>\n
However, Ginandjar said yesterday that there was no offset
\ndeal.<\/p>\n
\"Because this is a counter-purchase, we didn't force an offset
\ndeal... this is 100 percent counter-purchase, therefore there is
\nno offset,\" Ginandjar said adding that Russia guaranteed a five-
\nyear spare parts supply.<\/p>\n
\"So we didn't target this much or that much, even though there
\nwas a desire from Pak Habibie... but in the negotiations we
\ndidn't go that far,\" Ginandjar remarked.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government opted last month to buy 12 Sukhoi-
\n30K jet fighters and eight MI-17-IV helicopters from Russia to
\nmodernize its air defense system.<\/p>\n
It opted for the Russian fighters after canceling the purchase
\nof American-made F-16 jet fighters which had been continuously
\nlinked to human rights issues.<\/p>\n
Russia will deliver the Sukhoi fighters, comprising eight
\nsingle seaters and four double seaters, and helicopters over the
\nnext two to three years.<\/p>\n
The first batch is expected to be delivered early next year.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said some modifications will also be made to the
\nhelicopters.<\/p>\n
\"After flying in the helicopter (in Russia), Army Chief
\nGeneral Wiranto asked for some changes to meet our needs,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Russian company Progress and Commerce PLP in cooperation with
\nIndonesian company PT Dwipangga Sakti Prima have been appointed
\nto carry out the counter-purchase deal.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar expects the transaction to accelerate trade between
\nthe two countries.<\/p>\n
\"They've also offered our Air Force officers to be trained as
\nastronauts,\" he remarked. (prb)<\/p>\n
Arms sales -- Page 6<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sukhoi-fighter-deal-signed-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }