ANTARA News,
Bandung: Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Djoko Suyanto confirmed that the implementation of the program on Sukhoi jet fighers will be continued in tandem with the program on the replacement and procurement of arms for F-16 aircraft in the wake of the lifting of the US military embargo on Indonesia.
“There is no a ban on both, as the state has given its approval we have the money for that purpose. We will as least need another six Sukhoi jet fighters to bring the total number to 10 completed with their arms”, he told Antara here on Tuesday.
With regard to the arms supply program of the airforce until 2009, his side has received an additional fund already approved by the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) amounting to USD1.3 billion, which will be mainly spent on the procurement of the jet fighters complete with their arms imported from the West or the East, he said.
“There is a choice to replace our Hercules cargo aircraft by Russian-made wide-bodied aircraft such as Antonov 12 and Ilyusin 76. But it has to be done, although it would cost a great deal. It would not be easy to realize, as it also involves the necessary human resources, support system and funds,” he said.
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