Jordan offers RI used fighter jets

Tiarma Siboro The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Jordan wants to give Indonesia used military equipment for free, including U.S.-made F-5E Tiger fighter jets and armored vehicles, as part of defense cooperation arrangements between the two countries.

Visiting Jordanian military chief Gen. Khalid Jamil Sarayreh made the offer during his meeting here on Thursday with Indonesia's Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono.

In response, Juwono said Indonesia would study the offer as the government is reviewing plans for military procurements, which would require adjustment following the lifting of the arms embargo on the country by the United States.

"We appreciate the offer, but we will first study it to make sure the equipment being offered by our Jordanian counterpart does not cause complications in our defense plans," he told the press after the meeting.

Juwono did not say how many military aircraft and vehicles would be handed over to Indonesia, but said the government was considering their age and maintenance costs before giving a response to the Jordanian offer.

Normally, the grant of U.S.-made weapons must obtain the approval of the producing country.

The F-5E Tiger was produced by the U.S. in the 1970s, while Indonesia plans to modernize its armed forces with new military equipment produced in the early 1980s.

The Indonesian Air Force currently has a squadron of F-16 A/B fighters, which were first produced by the U.S. in the early 1980s. It also has four Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets first produced in the late 1980s.

During the Thursday meeting with Juwono, General Sarayreh also offered cooperation with Indonesia to combat terrorism, and possible joint exercises between the two armies' special forces were also discussed.