Indonesia signs $500 mln contract to buy six Russian jet fighters

Indonesia has signed a $470 million contract with Russia to buy six Sukhoi Su-30MK2 jet fighters for the Indonesian Air Force, The Jakarta Post daily has reported.

The deal was confirmed by Russian defense-industry and diplomatic sources, but the Sukhoi aircraft maker and arms exporter Rosoboronexport declined to comment.

Deliveries will start after 2013.

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said his office had handed over the contract to Rosoboronexport on December 30.

“We have another contract still in progress,” Sjafrie said.

The Indonesian Air Force currently has 10 Sukhoi jetfighters - six Sukhoi SU-27SKMs and four Sukhoi SU-30MK2s. The Air Force plans to place one squadron of the jetfighters at Hasanuddin Airbase in Makassar.

Russia recently completed a $300-million contract signed in 2007 on the delivery of three Su-30MK2 and three Su-27SKM fighters to Jakarta in addition to two Su-27SK and two Su-30MK fighters purchased in 2003.


Source: Moscow, 10 January 2012 - RIA Novosti News (www.en.rian.ru)

Photo: Indonesian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MK2 jet fighters (Photo by img156.imageshack.us)

Photo Story: Indonesian air force officials inspect a Russian Sukhoi Su-30MK2 multi-functional fighter jet during a handover ceremony in Makassar February 2, 2009. Indonesia has received three more new fighter jets from Russia on Monday and they will be stationed in Makassar, an airforce official said.

(10.01.2012)