Article Posted on : - Dec 28, 2008

A SU-30 MK in service with Indonesian air force. Sukhoi photo

MOSCOW (BNS): Sukhoi Corporation has supplied two SU-30 MK2 Flanker fighters to Indonesia on Friday, according to a company statement.

Under a 2007 contract, the Russian fighter manufacturer is to supply three each SU-30 MK2 and SU-27 SKM fighters to Jakarta. The Indonesian air force already has two SU-30 MK and two SU-27SK fighters in service. The 2007 contract for the six fighters was around $300 million.

In a company statement on Friday, Sukhoi said the two fighters have been delivered and the third SU-30 MK2 will be the delivered in early 2009 and the three SU-27SKMs will be delivered in 2009-10 period. The formal induction of the delivered fighters will be held sometime in mid-January, according to state agency looking after arms exports, Rosoboronexport.

“Indonesia has prepared all the infrastructure necessary to accommodate the Russian-made fighters, including a separate hangar. Pilots and technicians are also available for the servicing of the aircraft,” Sukhoi said in its statement. The aircraft will be part of the 11th Squadron of the Indonesian air force and will be based at the Sultan Hasanuddin airbase on the island of Sulawesi, according state agency RIA Novosti.

A Rosoboronexport official was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying, “The aircraft have been delivered to an airbase in Makassar and received by the Indonesian side. After assembly by Russian specialists and a series of test flights, the aircraft will be officially transferred to Indonesia.”