Air Force to receive six new Hawks from UK

Air Force to receive six new Hawks from UK

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Air Force will receive six new
Hawk jet fighters from the United Kingdom in June. They will be
stationed at Supadio Air Base in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.

"We expect the six British-made tactical attack aircraft will
be sent soon. This was the second batch of 40 aircraft we ordered
a couple years ago," the Indonesian Military (TNI) Spokesman Rear
Marshall Graito Usodo told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The six Hawks were originally scheduled to arrive in September
but were delayed following the crisis in East Timor.

The European Union placed an arms embargo on Indonesia
restricting purchases to black box instruments such as radar.

The embargo was lifted in January.

Indonesia ordered 40 Hawk-100 aircraft and Hawk-200 aircraft
worth around US$120 million in May 1996. Fourteen of the aircraft
have been delivered since April 1999.

Earlier in 1993, the country bought 24 Hawk aircraft, the
delivery of which was completed in May 1997.

All 14 Hawk-200's, purchased in the second sale, along with
the pending six aircraft, are stationed with the Elang
Khatulistiwa airfleet in West Kalimantan.

The 24 Hawks already delivered from the first purchase are
stationed in Pekanbaru, Riau.

Western Air Force Operations Commander, Air Rear Marshall
Suprihadi, said on Wednesday that the six new aircraft are
expected to arrive in June.

Unlike previous deliveries which were directly flown to
Indonesia, Antara reported that the Hawks would be shipped in
containers and assembled upon arrival.

This type of aircraft is well-known for its swiftness and can
be used both as training and fighting aircraft.

The Hawk 200 is a single-seat multi-role combat plane made by
British Aerospace.

It is usually fitted with a Rolls-Royce Adour Mk 871 engine
which can produce a maximum speed of 1,065 kilometers per
hour.

It can carry up to 3,000 kilograms in rockets and bombs on
seven under-wing external points. (dja)