Indonesia 'interested in buying British fighter'

British newspaper The Times reported informally Indonesia lobbied the UK about the possibility of buying up to 24 units of multi-jet combat aircraft Eurofighter Typhoon.

Sales of that, if implemented, would be worth around £ 5 billion or almost Rp71 trillion.
Separately, the British military equipment firm BAE Systems offers to rejuvenate the Hawk jet aircraft already owned by Indonesia.Head of Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Defence Brigadier General I Wayan Midhio, confirming that indeed there is talk about rejuvenation of the Hawk aircraft, but denied any plans to buy a multi-combat aircraft Eurofighter Typhoon."Air Force is discussing about Eurocopter, the helicopter Europe. But it was evaluated to be discussed at the Air Force, has not been discussed in the ministry (of defense)," said Wayan Midhio.Various types ofCurrently Indonesia has various types of fighter aircraft, including British-made Hawk aircraft, the F-16 aircraft made by American and Russian-made Sukhoi.CSIS investigators said Rear Admiral Evan defense affairs, diversity is an effort to diversify the government's defense equipment, because Indonesia has embargoed several times the purchase of equipment from Western countries like America and Britain.The British Government under the Labor Party in 1999 banned the sale of defense equipment on the planes allegedly made by British bombers used to bomb civilians in East Timor, Papua and Aceh.In the same year the U.S. Congress to implement the prohibition of arms sales to Indonesia for similar reasons, the newly revoked in 2005.But Admiral Evan saw, attempt diversified arms purchases that are not accompanied by long-term plan will be problems later on."In terms of the system, in terms of maintenance, in terms of costs to be incurred to train the same people. In such emergency situations, not necessarily people who are already trained to fly the Sukhoi can fly the Typhoon. So the cost will be more," said Evan.