Following two years of protracted negotiations, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu confirmed on July 26 that Indonesia will procure 11 Russian-made Su-35S ‘Flanker-E’ multirole fighter jets for the Indonesia Air Force (TNI-AU) with the first aircraft slated for delivery in 2018.
“There will be 11 planes. After two years, it was finally finalized,” the minister told reporters last week. The defense minister’s Su-35 statement follows the Indonesian Air Force’s recent announcement of the beginning of the second phase of its 2014-2019 upgrade plan.
It remains unclear whether a Su-35 contract has already been signed by Moscow and Jakarta. The minister’s announcement was preceded by media reports that Indonesia and Russia have finally agreed to an offset obligation program including technology transfers in early July.
Russia is expected to grant Indonesia a loan for the purchase of the military aircraft. The Indonesian defense ministry budgeted a total of $1.5 billion for the purchase of up to 16 new fighter jets. The defense minister neither revealed the price for the 11 Su-35s nor whether the contract contains an option to purchase five additional Su-35 fighter jets at a fixed price in the future.
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