Indonesia has scrapped plans to acquire Russian Su-35 fighters for budgetary reasons. This was reported on December 22 by the Defense News portal with reference to the statement of the Chief of the Indonesian Air Force General Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fajar Prasetio.
Prasetio confirmed that Indonesia “with a heavy heart” will abandon the plan to buy the Su-35 from Russia.
He also said that the country’s Air Force (Air Force) is considering the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II and Dassault Rafale as alternatives.
According to the chief marshal, the Su-35 had to be abandoned due to budgetary constraints. If Indonesia chooses the F-15EX, deliveries of the multi-role fighter could begin as early as 2027, Prasetio said.
Earlier, Indonesia also expressed interest in buying the Austrian fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, which the European country prematurely decommissioned due to cost and a corruption scandal.
On July 21, the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) reported that Russia plans to supply Indonesia with a batch of Su-35 multipurpose combat fighters. At the same time, it was noted that Jakarta at all possible levels was strongly “recommended” to abandon the project, but the Russian Federation still intends to supply a batch of aircraft.
Earlier, on July 20, the head of the FSMTC Dmitry Shugaev said that Russia had received several applications from foreign customers for the supply of Su-35 multipurpose fighters. He recalled that modern Russian-made aircraft, including the Su-35, have successfully proven themselves during the operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria.
Russia and Indonesia signed a contract for the supply of 11 multifunctional Su-35 fighters in February 2018. Jakarta wanted to receive the first plane by October, and the delivery was to take place within two years. However, the implementation of the contract has not yet begun.
The Su-35 belongs to the 4 ++ generation aircraft. This super-maneuverable fighter is designed for air superiority, as well as air support for troops and strikes against land and sea targets. The Russian armed forces receive a modification of the Su-35S aircraft.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
