Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto said Indonesia and Russia were currently exploring the possibility of cooperating in the field of defense technology, Antara reported. "It's a new opportunity that we are trying to explore. But it's not yet a structured scheme," Suyanto said here on Thursday. The TNI Chief said that Russia had promised to extend a soft loan worth US$1 billion or about Rp9.4 trillion to improve the capability and capacity of Indonesia's military. The funds would be used to buy strategic equipment and weapons needed by the Indonesian military, he said. The Indonesian Army needed to buy Mi-35 and Mi-17 personnel carrier helicopters . The Indonesian Navy needed to procure two Kilo Class-type submarines and 20 amphibious tanks, while the Indonesian Air Force planned to purchase weapons for six Sukhoi jet fighters. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the Merdeka Palace here on Thursday noon to begin a 10-hour state visit during which he will among others meet his Indonesian counterpart, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. A spokesman of the Indonesian Defense Ministry recently said that six Sukhoi jet fighters that Indonesia was planning to buy from Russia hopefully could arrive in the country in 2008. With the purchase of the six Sukhois, Indonesia would have a total of 10 or a squadron of Sukhoi jet fighters.
