REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto met President Joko Widodo here, Friday, to report the Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets from Russia" href="http://en.republika.co.id/berita/en/national-politics/17/08/29/ovfc81-indonesia-awaits-russias-decision-on-sukhoicommodities-barter">buying of Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets from Russia.
"I reported the purchase (planned) of Sukhoi SU-35s to the president a while ago," Wiranto said, following the meeting with the president in the Presidential Palace compounds in Jakarta.
Indonesia has planned to complete its military's main armament system, although there is little possibility of war with another country, he stressed.
To keep its sovereignty intact, the country needs to strengthen its military's main armament system, including increasing its bargaining power when it comes to international diplomacy, he noted.
"We need to strengthen the military's main armament system. Experience has showed that when we fought for West Irian, we needed a large force to strengthen our bargaining position in terms of political diplomacy," he remarked.
Indonesia has bought eight Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets and has planned to buy 11 more, he said.
"This is an old plan, but we have tightened the terms and conditions, so the seller does not sell as it wishes," he stated.
The new terms and conditions require that 50 percent of the purchasing price is paid with Indonesian commodities.
"We have discussed 17 types of commodities. The seller will have to choose the commodities. We can barter palm oil, coffee, tobacco and even military industrial products, such as military uniforms, and armored jackets for the fighter jets," he mentioned.
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