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Roundup: Indonesia confirms to acquire Sukhoi to replace F-5 fighter jets

Xinhua, September 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indonesia has decided to acquire Russian-made fighter jet Sukhoi Su-35 to replace its F-5 Tiger II which set to be decommissioned in the near future.

The decision was announced by Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on Wednesday when he inspected the readiness of the armed forces arsenals.

"The Indonesian Military (TNI) commander and the Air Forces commander had agreed to acquire one squadron of Su-35 from Russia to replace the F-5 Tiger," Ryamizard said.

Ryamizard added that the purchase on Su-35 would be conducted gradually.

"We want to buy one squadron (16 planes), but it would be adjusted with the state's financial capability," he said.

According to Ryamizard, the option of Su-35 is due to the fact that Indonesian pilots are customized to operate Sukhoi planes. Indonesian Air Forces currently operates five Su-27 and 11 Su-30 planes.

They arrived from Russia in several batches of deliveries in the last few years.

Besides the Sukhois, Indonesia also received deliveries of F-16 C/D Block 52 planes from the United States and T-50 Golden Eagle from South Korea in the last few years.

Ryamizard, who was a former Indonesian Army's chief of staff, said purchase contract agreement would be signed with Sukhoi in September.

A senior official at the Defense Ministry said part of the agreement with Sukhoi would include the Transfer of Technology ( ToT) requirement.

"This is to comply with our existing regulation that requires transfer of technology in each purchase of ultimate defense system, " Defense Planning Director General at the ministry Rear Admiral M. Syauqi said.

He added that the agreement on ToT requirement would particularly be discussed further with Sukhoi as it is related to the financing scheme.

Syauqi said purchase on Su-35 would be completed with the missiles and weaponry system embedded to the multirole fighter jet.

He said the related state agencies are now calculating the funds needed to finance the purchase, thus seeking sources of the funds to do so.

"We want it in a squadron (16 planes). But it would be adjusted with the budget because it would be financed by foreign loans," he added.

Northrop F-5 E/F Tiger II light attack fighter jet has been in service with Indonesian Air Forces since 1980s, scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of the decade.

Su-35, codenamed Super Flanker, was developed from Su-27. Besides serving the origin country of Russia, the multi-role fighter jet was also marketed to Brazil, South Korea, India and Indonesia.

The decision to opt Su-35 has ended speculations on combat fighters possible to replace Indonesian Air Forces' F-5 Tiger II. Before came up with Su-35 decision, Indonesian authority has put Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab JAS 39 Gripen from Britain and Sweden into consideration to replace the F-5 Tiger II. Endi