Indonesia’s Defense Minister Confirms Plans To Purchase Su-35s

Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has confirmed the country’s plans to purchase Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and is expected to sign the deal in first week of April.

Ryacudu tool Bloomberg in an interview that he is hoping to finalize a deal to buy between 8 and 10 Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets in a trip to Russia in early April.

Ryacudu had said earlier that Indonesia needed a squadron of 18-20 Su-35 aircraft in a bid to replace its aging F-5 Tiger squadron, but the minister commented that for the first stage of cooperation this number would be sufficient.

The Indonesian government had been considering purchasing Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-16V, BAE Systems Plc’s Eurofighter Typhoon or Saab AB’s Gripen.

The minister added that Indonesia would continue looking to various countries for procurement. "We will buy from Europe and America, from Russia also," he said. "We don’t prioritize. The important thing is if we need them, and the research backs it up, we will buy. We are replacing old planes, not adding new ones."

Indonesia’s Armed Forces currently use Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighters. Sukhoi Su-35 fighters will replace the U.S. F-5 Tiger, which the Indonesian Armed Forces have been exploiting since 1980.