In the near-term a squadron of 16 outdated US F-5 Tiger fighters will be replaced by a squadron of Russian state-of-the-art Su-35 multi-role fighters, Voenno-promishlenniy Courier reports with reference to Tempo.

«We have made a decision to purchase a squadron of Russian Su-35 fighters to replace F-5 Tiger aircraft,» Indonesian Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu said following the results of inspection of inventories of three units of Indonesian armed forces.

According to him, “the Ministry of Defense has chosen Sukhoi fighters as the replacement for F-5 Tiger jets, because pilots of the national air forces are used to operating Sukhoi aircraft”.

Su-35 jets will be purchased gradually in compliance with financial capabilities of the country. «We would like to buy one squadron, but this will depend on financial capabilities of the government,» the source reported with reference to the Indonesian Minister of Defense.

Earlier former Indonesian Chief of Staff of the Army said that a contract for delivery of Su-35 fighters would be signed this September. In his own turn Air Forces Vice Marshall М.Syaugi said that purchase of Su-35 fighters would include transfer of Russian technologies to Indonesia.

«Inaccordance with the existing rules, if we want to purchase military vehicles, transfer of technologies must be included. Everything will be defined taking into account the financial capabilities,» M.Syaugi said. He also noted that state-of-the-art Russian fighters would be purchased with weapons.