Indonesia Interested in Buying Russian Weapons

Indonesia's armed forces commander said that Indonesia is interested in military-technical cooperation with Russia as the Asian country is in need of powerful weapons.

Indonesia is interested in military-technical cooperation with Russia as the Asian country is in need of powerful weapons, Indonesia's armed forces commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said while on a visit to Moscow in Thursday.

"Back in time, the Indonesian army was feared and respected by its allies thanks to the Soviet weapons, incredibly powerful at the time. We sincerely hope that the cooperation in the field will continue nowadays. We are interested in powerful weapons," Nurmantyo said at a meeting with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

Nurmantyo said that his Moscow visit was organized at a direct order of the president of Indonesia.

In March, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu announced Moscow and Jakarta would sign in April a contract for the delivery of 10 Russian Su-35 Flanker multirole fighter jets to replace Indonesia’s fleet of F-5 Tigers.