RI still to send Sukhoi pilots to China for training

Two Sukhoi Su-27SKM fighter jets are displayed during a handover ceremony at an airbase in Makassar, South Sulawesi province September 27, 2010. The Russian-made aircraft, included one other, are the last of ten SU-27 jets delivered to the Indonesia Air Force. (Photo: Reuters)

September 29, 2010, Beijing - Indonesia will continue training its Sukhoi pilots in China, Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said here on Tuesday.

"Well, this has become part of the Air Force`s development program and so it will be continued," he said on the sidelines of his working visit.

He said China has a simulator for Sukhoi fighter jet pilots as it is also one of the aircraft`s users and now also starting to produce the Russian figher planes.

"Indonesia as a Sukhoi user certainly has an interest in developing its pilots. It so happens that China has a simulator for it and so we will take the opportunity," he said.

On a separate occasion, planning assistant to the Air Force chief of staff, Rear Marshal Erry Biatmoko, said the Indonesian Air Force still had no plan to send more Sukhoi pilots to China.

"No, we will not as yet send our pilots to China to improve their capability in operating Sukhois," he said.
Indonesia early in September 2010 strengthened its airforce with three more Sukhoi SU-27SKMs making the total number of the fighters to 10 of SU-30MK, SU-27SK, SU-30MKM and SU-27SKM. The last second are of the fourth Sukhoi generation.

With the additional units of Sukhoi however the Indonesian airforce will not as yet increase the number of its Sukhoi pilots.

(ANTARA News)

The Indonesian airforce has earlier sent 16 Sukhoi pilots to improve their capability in China.