Govt eyes Russian jet fighters

JAKARTA (JP): The government is still considering buying jet fighters from Russia after it surprisingly pulled out of a plan last month to buy F-16 Fighting Falcons from the United States.

Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said yesterday the government had many things to consider before it would decide whether to buy the Russian aircraft.

"We are now evaluating the possibility of procuring jet fighters from other countries," Feisal told reporters after addressing the 51st anniversary of the National Police in Kelapa Dua, East Jakarta.

The government pulled out of the plan to buy nine U.S. F-16 fighter planes because of "wholly unjustified criticisms" of Indonesia in the United States Congress.

The government, which also withdrew from the U.S. Expanded International Military Education and Training program, said it objected to U.S. criticism of the country's human rights record, particularly in East Timor.

Indonesia has expressed interest in buying Russian defense equipment, including Sukhoi-30 and Mig-29 jet fighters, radars and guided missiles. The government is also considering buying French-made Mirage 2000 jet fighters.

But officials here have rejected speculation that any procurement from Russia would have been caused by the canceled F- 16 deal. They said a Russian team had come to Jakarta in February to offer Indonesia military equipment.

Feisal went to Russia immediately after the biennial Paris Air Show ended June 22.

"I went there to see the country's defense system, including its jet fighter fleet," he said.

Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Sutria Tubagus said earlier that Indonesia was likely to buy the Russian Sukhoi-30 jets.

"Based on technical and price considerations, we prefer the Sukhoi-30 to complete our fleet of jet fighters," Sutria was quoted by Republika daily as saying Monday in Bandung, West Java.

He said Moscow was willing to barter over the Sukhoi-30 jet fighters so that "the government may go ahead with the plan".

"We have informed our government about this possibility. So we'll just wait for their decision," Tubagus said.

Tubagus did not say what the government was offering in return, but cited Malaysia's exchange of oil for Sukhoi planes. (imn)