Weapons and Equipment Specs of Indonesia’s Potential Su-35 Jet Revealed

The Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) chief has revealed details of the weapons and other equipment expected in the US$1.14 billion deal to purchase 11 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia’s arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

TNI chief General Gatot Nurmantyo said that the Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets must be equipped with air-to-air missile, air-to-ground missile, bombs, ground support equipment, simulator, spare parts including reserve engines, according to specifications set by the air force chief of staff.

General Gatot Nurmantyo threatened that he will reject the Sukhoi Ss-35 fighter jets if they do not meet its desired specifications.

"If the Sukhoi fighter jets delivered do not meet specifications set by the air force chief of staff, I order the cancellation (of the purchase). If the planes are accepted, this means that I and the air force chief of staff will do insubcoordination (insubordination?) with President Joko Widodo," Nurmantyo said after inaugurating a housing complex, educational facility and barrack in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted in an Antara News report.

He said TNI has written a letter to the Defense Ministry about the plan to buy Sukhoi fighter jets, with a copy addressed to President Joko Widodo.

"At a recent limited meeting, the Indonesian President has instructed the fighter jets to be bought must be Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets which are ready to fight," he said.

Indonesia and Russia have already reached an agreement to buy the 11 planes and pay for them in the form of cash and barter trade with Indonesian commodities worth 50% of the cost. In addition, it was revealed yesterday that Russia’s Rostec will set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) unit in Indonesia for Sukhoi aircraft worth about 35% of the contract value.

There has been no official reaction  from either Rosoboronexport or the Russian government to the recent comments from Indonesian officials concerning the Su-35 deal.