Indonesia plans to buy 6 more Sukhois

Sukhoi Su-30MK2                                                                                                                         Antara

The Indonesian Air Force plans to buy six more Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jets to reinforce the country’s aerial defense capability.

Air Force chief of staff Marshal Imam Sufaat said on Friday the purchase would be part the Ministry of Defense’s long-term agenda, but he was not sure when the plan would materialize.

Imam said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had approved the shopping, which will add to the existing 10 jet fighters Indonesia has bought from Russia since 2003.

“The existing squadron of Sukhois remains insufficient to give a deterrent effect given our vast territory,” Imam told Antara news agency. He added that Indonesia lagged behind Malaysia, which has 18 Sukhois despite its smaller territory than its Southeast Asian neighbor.

Indonesia bought six Sukhois in August 2007 for US$300 million.

The Indonesian Air Force has sent its pilots to Russia and China to learn how to operate the fighter jet.