Article Posted on : - Aug 18, 2010

The Su-27SK fighter. A Sukhoi photo

JAKARTA (BNS): Indonesia will receive three Sukhoi-27 fighter aircraft from Russia in September, the country’s Air Force Chief has said.

“The arrival of the jet fighters will be earlier than initial schedule on September 11, 2010. But they will arrive in stages, not all together,” Air Chief Marshal Imam Sufaat said as reported by Antara news agency.

Two of the three Su-27SKMs will arrive early next month and the third one will land in the last week of September, the Air Force chief said.

The new fighters will be flight tested after landing at the Sultan Hasanuddin airport, he said.

The country plans to display the new fighters during the 65th anniversary of the Indoensian Defence Forces which will be held on October 5, 2010.

Indonesia, in 2003, procured four Sukhoi fighters – two SU-30MK and SU-27SK variants. In 2007, it placed an order for six more such fighters – three SU-30MK2s and SU-27SKMs – with Russia.

While the three SU-30MK2 fighters have already been delivered to it in December 2008 and January 2009, it is awaiting the delivery of the three Su-27SKM versions.