Indonesia seals $1.1 billion deal with Russia to buy 11 jets

JAKARTA

Indonesia has inked a billion-dollar deal to buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia, an official said on Feb. 17.

The contract, signed by both countries’ representatives in Jakarta on Wednesday, is worth a total $1.14 billion, Indonesia defense ministry spokesman Totok Sugiharto said.

“Two units of Sukhoi jets will be delivered in August 2018,” he told AFP.

Another six jets would be delivered 18 months after the contract comes into effect, and the final three a further five months later, he said.

The deal comes after Indonesia said in August that it would seek to trade palm oil, coffee and tea for Russian fighter jets, saying it wanted to capitalize on international sanctions on Moscow.

The EU and U.S. have targeted Russia with sanctions for alleged meddling in the U.S. presidential election and its annexation of Crimea.

However, Indonesia’s trade minister said the sanctions could be good news for his country as Russia is forced to seek new markets to import from.

Indonesia and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange 11 Russian-made Sukhoi fighters for key commodities in Moscow early August. It was not announced on Feb. 17 in what form payment would be made.