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Indonesia will ink Su-35 Flanker-E fighter deal in November
Indonesia’s Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu announced that the Indonesian government will sign its purchase of 11 Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E multi-role fighters in November.
Jakarta and Moscow agreed to the $1.14 billion purchase in August following approximately a full year in bilateral negotiations. The Su-35s will replace the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) Northrop F-5E Tiger IIs.
To support the deal, Russia will issue offsets and countertrade with Indonesia.
In August, Rostec signed a memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) with Indonesian trading company PT Perusahaan Perdagangan, in which Rostec will acquire Indonesian commodities and manufactures.
The countertrade element is expected to form upwards of 50% of the value of the fighter deal – i.e. Rostec will acquire $570 million U.S. in Indonesian goods. In addition, Russia will also issue $400 million in offsets in Indonesia, which will translate into investment in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities.
According to Thomas Lembong, the head of Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Russia’s offsets will basically constitute 85% of the fighter purchase’s value (Antara News).
The net-foreign currency-outflow of the purchase would be approximately $175 million, with the remaining $970 million being spent in various sections of the Indonesian economy.
The Indonesian Military (TNI)’s general commander, Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo also stated that the TNI-AU will not accept the Su-35s unless they meet the force’s specifications (Antara News).
Manufactured by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the Su-35 Flanker-E is a modern variant of the Sukhoi Flanker-series. Powered by two 117S turbofan engines with thrust-vectoring nozzles, the Su-35 can carry up to 8,000 kg in air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons distributed across 12 external hardpoints.
Indonesia is the second overseas customer of the Su-35, joining China, which bought 24 aircraft from UAC in November 2015 in a $2 billion deal. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly planning to sign for a squadron of Su-35 fighters in 2017 as well.
Besides the Su-35, the TNI-AU also acquired 24 refurbished Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block-25s under the Excess Defence Articles (EDA) program for $750 million, including upgrades.
4 Comments
by Augustine
Weakness of Su-35 Flanker is lack of AESA radar. I’ll rather buy MiG-35 Fulcrum. The day mighty Flanker fights AESA radar equipped jet might be day of its death. Acrobatic aerobatic supermaneuverability might not save Su-35 from Australian F-18E advanced super Hornet and EF-18 Growler Electronic Attack Hornet variants that are coming to dominate Oceania region alongside Australian F-35 Lightening stealth jets…maybe Indonesia is only thinking air power parity with China.
Russia should upgrade Su-30 and Su-35 with the same AESA radar on Su-57 stealth jets or else a bitter lesson will be learnt one day….$85 million jet shot down by $500 thousand air to air missile….bad for business!
by Joseph
From what I hear MiG-35 does not have AESA radar either, even the technology is available, to cut down unit cost.
by James OA
Soon we will be eating mee bakso flanker
by Augustine
Info from Mikoyan manufacturers of MiG-35, it has AESA radar on their official news release. Its a 4++ Gen counter stealth FGA. MiG-35 is equal to the Rafale in tech but superior in dogfight with the MiGs 2D vector thrusting. Maybe whats killing market for it is the bad combat and service history of older MiG-29.