Defense Ministry To Replace F-5 Tiger Aircraft With Sukhoi-35 Jets

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Defense Ministry has decided to replace a squadron of aging American-made F-5 E/F Tiger jet fighters with Russian-made Sukhoi SU-35 aircraft.

"We have agreed to buy a squadron of Sukhoi SU-35s from Russia to replace the F-5 Tiger jet fighters," Defense Minister, Ryamizard Ryacudu, said after conducting an impromptu inspection of weapons owned by the Army in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Ryacudu explained that the reason for purchasing the Sukhoi jets was that the Indonesian Air Forces (TNI AU's) pilots were more accustomed to operating the Russia-made jet fighters.

"Now we have jet fighters made by the United States, China and Russia," he said.

The Sukhoi jet fighters will be bought in stages, based on the state's financial capacity, he added.

"We want to buy a squadron (of Sukhoi SU-35s), but the purchase will be adjusted, based on the financial capability of the government," Ryacudu stated.

He added that the purchase agreement for the Sukhoi jets will be signed later this month.

The Director General of Defense Planning at the Defense Ministry, Rear Marshal M. Syaugi, said the new Sukhoi jet fighters will be bought on a transfer of technology (ToT) basis.

"This is in line with existing rules, which specify that if we want to buy a main armament system, there must be ToT," he explained. (WDY)