MOSCOW, April 25 (UPI) -- Indonesia, frustrated with a 12-year U.S. embargo on arms sales to the country, has broken a 40-year dependence on the United States for military supplies and is to purchase as many as 48 Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, Indonesian and Russian sources told United Press International.
An agreement on the purchase of four jets and a letter of intent for additional aircraft was signed during this week's visit to Russia by Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
While no official announcement has been made, UPI was told Friday that Jakarta will buy two long-range Su-27SKs and two Su-30MKs for delivery this year and may purchase 44 additional jets for delivery over the next four years.
Indonesian and Russian military sources say Jakarta is seeking to build up its air power with four new squadrons of 12 fighter jets each, replacing older U.S.-made aircraft, many of which are grounded for lack of spare parts.
The groundbreaking deal was reached after Megawati, accompanied by Indonesian military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and other top Indonesian officials, visited the Zhukovsky military field outside Moscow to personally examine the advanced Sukhoi jets.
Jakarta planned to buy Russian aircraft in 1997 but the deal was put on hold due to the Asian financial crisis.
Indonesia also hoped that a U.S. ban on military exports, imposed by Congress after the deaths of hundreds of civilians in clashes with the Indonesian military in East Timor, would be lifted once East Timor -- now Timor-Leste -- gained independence, but the embargo has remained in place, forcing Indonesia to look elsewhere.
The jet purchase will be partly paid for with commodities including rubber, palm oil, tea and coffee.
An inter-government agreement on expanding trade and military ties was also signed during the visit, with Russia offering to supply helicopters and armored vehicles to Indonesia's armed forces.
Russia has supplied fighter jets to India, China and Malaysia and is seeking to further increase arms sales to Asian countries.
On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russian arms exports in 2002 reached $4.82 billion, setting a record. Russian arms exports totaled $4.4 billion in 2001.
Putin said aircraft sales made up 70 percent of total arms exports and praised aircraft manufacturer MiG for bringing in record sales with significant contracts signed with China and India.
Both states -- reliable clients for Russian military equipment including jets, missiles, ships and submarines -- accounted for some 80 percent of Russian arms exports.
Putin called on the military-industrial complex and the state-owned Rosoboronexport company to look beyond conventional exports and focus on a push for a broader range including hi-tech products such as advanced air defense systems.
Putin also said after-sales service and provision of spare parts to clients abroad had to be improved if Russia is to win new arms export markets.
