Indonesia plans to have 180 Sukhois in 10 squadrons. Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro has said that his ministry plans to have 180 Sukhois by developing 10 squadrons, to guard the country.
"To defend our country`s sovereignty, we have set a target to have 180 Sukhoi jet fighters by developing 10 squadrons," Minister Purnomo, who was accompanied Chief of the Air Force Marshall Imam Sufaat, said here Monday.Each squadron will have 18 Sukhois, he said.
The defense ministry in its strategic working plan has also to buy F-16 Fighting Falcons to replace Australia-made Hawks.
Indonesia is expected to acquire 180 Sukhois by 2024, Russia has expressed its readiness to supply as many Sukhois as Indonesia needs, he said.
In 2003, Indonesia purchased two Sukhois of the SU-30 MK type and two of the SU-27SK type. Later, the Defense Ministry bought six Sukhois in 2007 worth US$300 million, or Rp2.85 trillion.