Jakarta, Indonesia: Indonesia’s Air Force chief of staff Marshal Imam Sufaat said on Friday his country planned to buy six more Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, the Jakarta Post reported.
He said the purchase would be on the Defense Ministry’s long-term agenda, but was not sure when the plan would be implemented.
“The existing squadron of Sukhois remains insufficient to give a deterrent effect given our vast territory,” Imam told the Antara news agency.
He said the proposal was already approved by the country’s president, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Indonesia bought three Russian fighter jets in 2003. The $300 million contract signed in August 2007 stipulated the delivery of six Su-30MK fighter planes. Three aircraft were delivered in February 2009, another two were handed over to Indonesia on September 10, and one was taken to Indonesia on Thursday.
