Russian jet fighters set to strengthen Indonesian air defense
Russian jet fighters set to strengthen Indonesian air defense
Agencies, Jakarta
Indonesia has moved to end its long-standing dependence on U.S.
military aircraft with the arrival of four Russian-made Sukhoi
jet fighters in September and another 44 fighters in the next
four years.
The first batch consists of two Sukhoi-27, two Sukhoi-30 and
two assault Mi-35 helicopters, which will be publicly displayed
during the Indonesian Military's anniversary celebration on Oct.
5.
TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Wednesday in Moscow
that the initial purchase of four Sukhoi fighter planes, called
Flanker by NATO, was part of a plan to buy a total of 48 Sukhoi
jet fighters in the next four years to modernize Indonesia's air
defense system, which has suffered from the military embargo
imposed by the U.S.
"We have decided to buy these jet fighters and ideally, we
need four squadrons of 12 planes each, or a total of 48 planes, a
process we expect to complete in four years," Endriartono said as
quoted by Antara.
He is among President Megawati Soekarnoputri's entourage in
the five-day landmark visit to Russia which aims to build
military cooperation between the two countries and enhance
bilateral ties in other areas.
The purchase of the four planes and two helicopters, which
will cost Indonesia US$197 million, is to be signed before
Megawati leaves Russia for Poland on Thursday.
It is common practice in purchasing jet fighters that the
price only covers the basic specification of the planes. If the
Sukhoi is fully equipped with arms and combat technology, each
plane would be worth around $100 million.
Endriartono said that $21 million or 12.5 percent of the total
would be paid by the state-owned Bank Bukopin as a down payment,
while the balance would be settled through a counter trade of 11
commodities.
Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Suwandi, also part of
the entourage, said the 11 commodities for the trade-off would
include rubber, crude palm oil, tea, coffee, cocoa, textiles and
bauxite.
One squadron of 10 F-16 Fighting Falcons, one of 24 F-5E
Tigers and one of 12 A-4 Sky Hawks, all U.S.-made aircraft, form
the backbone of Indonesia's air defense system. However, only
half of the aircraft are fit to fly due to the military embargo
imposed by Washington following the East Timor human rights
violations in 1999.
Under founding president Sukarno, Megawati's father, Indonesia
possessed the best-equipped Air Force in Southeast Asia in the
early 1960s, with 100 Russian-made Mig-17 jet fighters.
In Jakarta, Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Chappy Hakim
denied allegations that the purchase of the Sukhois had bypassed
the House of Representatives' authority.
"The purchase is the result of the Air Force's annual
performance appraisal and an intensive study since the 1990s. We
almost realized the purchases in 1997," Chappy said.
"So, if some parties are shocked by the purchase, I would have
to say that this did not happen all of sudden because the study
and decision had been made a long time ago," he added.
Chappy was speaking at Monday evening's launch of 35 books
penned by Air Force squadrons, held at the Halim Perdanakusuma
executive club.
He said the U.S.' failure to lift the embargo was among the
reasons why Indonesia decided to acquire the Sukhois.
The Air Force originally planned to park the Russian-made jet
fighters at an air base outside Java, but due to their small
number, the four fighters will be parked at the Iswahyudi main
air base in the East Java town of Madiun.
Chappy said six to eight pilots would be sent for training in
Russia and study the technology of the new planes.
Meanwhile, aviation expert Ninok Leksono hailed the
government's choice, saying the Sukhoi was compatible with the
country's archipelagic geography.
"Not to mention, its technology which is better than the F-16.
The Sukhoi is very suitable for Indonesia's geographic condition
because with an operational range of about 3,500 kilometers, the
fighter can reach most parts of Indonesia easily," he said.