REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Defense minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said that the planned purchase of Sukhoi SU-35 was part of the efforts to stay technologically upgraded as Indonesia had bought earlier models in the past.

"Why do we buy Sukhoi from Russia? It is just for the purpose of technology sustainability as we have had SU-27, SU-30 and now we will have SU-35," he said here on Friday.

The minister made the statement with regard to the government's plan to buy a squadron of Sukhoi SU-35 planes from Russia.

President Joko Widodo is expected to witness the signing of the purchase agreement during his planned visit to Russia in the middle of this month to attend the ASEAN-Russia summit.

The new Sukhoi fighters would complete the country's fleet of warplanes to defend the territorial integrity of Indonesia.

Ryamizard explained that Indonesia's relations with Russia are as good as those with the US, China and others.

"There is nothing special (about the relationship with Russia)," he stated.

Two weeks ago, Minister Ryamizard had visited Russia to attend a meeting of ASEAN-Russia ministers of defense to discuss the issue of terrorism.

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