Indonesia To Buy 10 Sukhoi 35 Fighters, Contract Signing in March

Indonesia has decided to buy 10 Sukhoi 35 fighter jets from Russia as part of its plan to modernize the country's air force.

"I will go to Russia in March to sign off the contract," Defense Minister Ryamizard told reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with visiting Russian Security Council delegation in Jakarta, local media reported.

He confirmed that the purchase would be limited to 10 units, down from an earlier plan to buy 12 pieces of the front-line Russian fighters.

"If brand new technology comes to surface, we can update (the fighter jets)," the minister said.

Ryamizard added that Indonesia and Russia have agreed on the transfer of technology (TOT) terms regarding the purchase.

He said that Indonesia would send its pilots and support personnel to Russia to undergo training in the maintenance and operation of the planes.

Indonesian Air Forces Commander, Marshall Agus Supriatna hinted late last year that Indonesia would buy 12 units of Sukhoi 35 fighter jets to replace the already-decommissioned light attack warplanes F-5 E/F.

Indonesian Air Forces operates 11 Sukhoi 30 and 5 Sukhoi 27 planes, which come from the same "Flanker family" with Sukhoi 35, in its fleet at present.

This is the second export success for the Su-35 planes in less than six months with China signing up to buy 24 similar aircraft.