One Russian-made Sukhoi jetfighter for the Indonesian Air Force has arrived at Sultan Hassanuddin air base of Makassar, South Sulawesi, an officer at base said.
Flown from Russia by an Antonove AV-124-100 cargo plane, the jetfighter arrived in Makassar at about 11:00 am on Saturday, Wing 5 commander Col Arif Mustofa said here on Saturday.
The arrival of the Sukhoi SU-30MK2 jetfighter was also witnessed by the Air Force`s Sukhoi Project chief, Col, Mahandono, Sultan Hassanuddin Airbase Commander Commodore l Putu and Air Squadron 11 Commander Lt Col Iko Putra and Wing 5 Commander Col Arif Mustofa.
Russia`s Sukhoi aircraft making company on August 21, 2007 announced the sale of six Sukhoi jetfighters consisting of three Sukhoi SU-30MK2 and three SU-27SKM to Indonesia worth USD300 million.
Earlier. Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Subandrio said the three jet fighter aircraft would become part of the Air Force`s Sukhoi Squadron V based in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
"The new fighter aircraft from Russia will heighten the Air Forces` operational readiness," Subandrio said.
Meanwhile, the defense ministry`s director general for defense facilities, Rear Marshal Erik Herryanto, said the ministry and Sukhoi aircraft maker Rosoborn Export would soon finalize negotiations on the supply of six Sukhoi fighter planes to Indonesia.
"The process to purchase the six Sukhois is almost completed and we are now only waiting for the issuance of a letter of credit by the finance ministry," Heryanto said.
The letter-of-credit issuing process would take three to six months so it was still difficult to say when exactly the Sukhois would be delivered, he said. (ANTARA News)
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