Two more Sukhoi to touch down today<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Two more Sukhoi SU-30 jets from Russia are expected to arrive at
\nthe Iswahyudi air base in Madiun, East Java, on Monday after a
\nday's delay due to technical problems.<\/p>\n
"We are in the process of assembling the SU-27 jet fighters
\nwhich arrived earlier. The assembly is being done by Russian
\ntechnicians," Indonesian Air Force spokesman Brig. Gen. Sagom
\nTamboen said here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Russian technicians are working hard to complete the
\nassembling on schedule, he said.<\/p>\n
He said Russian state company Rosoboroniexport was responsible
\nfor the assembly of the jets' and their maintenance until their
\ntest flights.<\/p>\n
The Russian-made fighters were transported to Indonesia only
\npartly assembled.<\/p>\n
Six Indonesian pilots who trained for two months in Russia to
\nfly the Sukhois are expected to return home in the first week of
\nSeptember, Sagom said.<\/p>\n
He said the other two Sukhoi jets would also be delivered only
\npartly assembled aboard a an Antonov cargo plane and assembled at
\nthe air base following their arrival.<\/p>\n
The air base is also home to the Air Force's U.S.-made Falcon
\nF-16s.<\/p>\n
Besides the four Sukhois, two of which were delivered on
\nWednesday, Indonesia is still awaiting the arrival of two MI-35
\nassault helicopters. Indonesia purchased the Russian warplanes
\nand helicopters through a US$192.6 million countertrade deal that
\nis being looked into by the House of Representatives for possible
\nprocedural violations.<\/p>\n
Under the deal, Russia will receive 30 different commodities
\nfrom Indonesia in return for the military equipment.<\/p>\n
The House is scheduled to question Minister of Industry and
\nTrade Rini S. Soewandi and National Logistics Agency chief
\nPuspoyo Widjanarko over the alleged irregularities.<\/p>\n
Despite the controversy surrounding the purchase, the
\nIndonesian Military has expressed its eagerness to acquire at
\nleast a squadron of the Russian jets.<\/p>\n
A squadron consist of 12 to 16 planes.<\/p>\n
The Sukhois are expected to strengthen the country's air
\ndefenses, which has to this point consisted of OV-10 Broncos, F-
\n15 Tigers, F-16s and British-made Hawk-100s and 200s.<\/p>\n
The purchase of the Sukhoi jets was meant to reduce
\nIndonesia's dependence on the United States and its allies for
\nmilitary equipment. The U.S. imposed a military embargo on
\nIndonesia following the violence in East Timor in 1999.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported on Sunday that the four Sukhois
\nwould take part in the celebrations for the Indonesian Military's
\n58th anniversary on Oct. 5.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-more-sukhoi-to-touch-down-today-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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