Habibie backs military's plan to buy Russian planes

Habibie backs military's plan to buy Russian planes

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie
has backed the government's plan to buy the Russian-made
jetfighter Su-30 Sukhoi.

The aircraft was among the world's best and cheapest and
Russia was well-known for its high military technology, Habibie
said yesterday.

"As an aeronautics expert, I can say that based on
considerations of aerodynamics and performance, it (Su-30) is
outstanding."

The decision whether to buy the two-seat long-range
interceptor was up to the Armed Forces, he said after installing
eight senior officials into the Agency for Technology Assessment
and Application (BPPPT).

"They (the Armed Forces) have their own strategic planning,"
he said. "We at the BPPPT only give technological recommendation
to them."

Habibie visited Russia during his recent European outing,
during which he took a close look at the aircraft and had
discussions.

He was the second top government official to recommend the Su-
30 purchase after Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Sutria Tubagus
gave it his support.

Sutria said on Tuesday that the Air Force leans towards
purchasing the jetfighter and it might need some 20 aircraft. The
decision could be made by the end of the year.

Indonesia has been planning to buy more jetfighters to
strengthen its fleet of nine F-16s Fighting Falcons, 12 F-5
Tigers, 14 Hawk Mk-53s, seven Hawk Mk-109s and 20 A-4s.

The country will be taking delivery of another 24 British-made
Hawks.

Human rights criticism by the United States Congress caused
Indonesia, in May, to turn down the U.S. offer of nine F-16s
previously ordered by Pakistan.

President Soeharto said in his letter to U.S. President Bill
Clinton that the cancellation would remove irritants to bilateral
ties.

Habibie said that the Su-30 would cost Indonesia far less than
the F-16's price tag of US$9 million each.

"But in the military, price always takes a back seat behind
mission undertaking capability and safety when a decision to buy
warfare equipment is made," Habibie said.

"It's no use to buy safe and cheap aircraft if they cannot win
a dogfight," he added.

Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar
Kartasasmita said, after the announcement last month that
Indonesia was turning to Russian planes, that a counter-purchase
arrangement was being studied.

The Su-30, a two-seated version of the popular Su-27 Flankers,
made its Indonesian debut in the national Air Show at Soekarno-
Hatta airport last year. With a maximum speed of 2,500 kph, the
Su-30 was designed for day and night operations.

The former Soviet Union and its allies heavily relied on
Sukhoi variants, other than MiG versions, to keep up with the
U.S. military aircraft.

If Indonesia seals its deal with Russia, it will join
neighboring Malaysia as a Southeast Asian nation which has
combined U.S.-made and Russia-made jetfighters. Malaysia has a
fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrums in addition to its U.S.-made F-16s and
F/A-18 Hornets.

Both Sutria and Habibie have said that there should be no
problems using Russian planes. (amd)