JAKARTA: Indonesia has inked a billion-dollar deal to buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35jets from Russia, an official said Saturday.
The contract, signed by both countries’ representatives in Jakarta onWednesday, is worth a total $1.14 billion, Indonesia defence ministryspokesman 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 intoeffect, and the final three a further five months later, he said.
The deal comes after Indonesia said in August that it would seek to tradepalm oil, coffee and tea for Russian fighter jets, saying it wanted tocapitalise on international sanctions on Moscow.
The EU and US have targeted Russia with sanctions for alleged meddling inthe US presidential election and its annexation of Crimea.
However, Indonesia’s trade minister said the sanctions could be good newsfor his country as Russia is forced to seek new markets to import from.
Indonesia and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange 11Russian-made Sukhoi fighters for key commodities in Moscow early August.
It was not announced Saturday in what form payment would be made.