Russia In Deep Negotiation With Indonesia Over Su-35 Fighter Jets Deal

Russia is holding intensive talks with Indonesia over possible deliveries of its Su-35 fighter jets.

"There are prospects and the talks are very intensive," Russian president’s aide in charge of defense and technology cooperation, Vladimir Kozhin said Thursday. However, Kozhin did not detail about the deadlines for the contract to be signed, Tass reported Thursday. 

Russia has been pushing hard to sell its Su-35 fighter jet to Indonesia. "Indonesia is keen in purchasing “nine or ten” Su-35S fighter jets," an Indonesian defense official said in a phone interview with Reuters last month. However, “We are still negotiating,” he added.

The Indonesian air force needs the Super Flanker fighter jet for replacing its outdated American built F-5 fighters but the country’s political leadership is unable to act quickly because the US is promoting in with its F-16 and F-18 jets. Indonesia operates both American F-16s and Russian made Flankers about five Su-27s and 11 Su-30s.

“Indonesia’s turn toward Russian fighters stemmed partly from necessity,” Defense Industry Daily (DID) explains.  Its 12 remaining F-16A/Bs and 16 remaining F-5E/F fighters experienced severe maintenance problems in the wake of a US ban.