JAKARTA: Indonesian Military chief Adm
AKARTA: Indonesian Military chief Adm. Agus Suhartono said he has been studying an offer of two squadrons of F-16 A/B Fighting Falcon fighter jets from the US.
He said although it was a grant, he had to calculate the cost of maintaining the 24 aircraft. Indonesia-US ties were also a consideration, he said as quoted by Antara news agency.
The Obama administration lifted the military embargo on Indonesia in July due to “improvement on human rights”. The embargo was levied more than a decade ago after repeated human rights abuses in Timor Leste perpetrated by the Indonesian Military.
Budget concerns forced Indonesia to refuse an earlier US government offer of a newer model of Fighting Falcon, the F-16 C/D.
Indonesian Air Force chief of staff Air Marshal Eri Biatmoko said the military needed three squadrons of fighter jets for air security. — JP
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