He said it was not impossible that they would be delivered before the year or within two to three years. The process has already been underway, he said after leading the commemoration of the Patriot Day.
He said Indonesia chose to procure F-16s from the US through a grant rather than buying the new ones in order to get more. He said if Indonesia bought the new ones it would only get six while through a grant it could get 24.
He also said the state budget for it could also be cut by procuring them through a grant.
Purnomo said he had checked the conditions of the aircraft and met with the team that looked after and maintained the aircraft.
Indonesia`s Air Force chief of staff Marshal Imam Sufaat meanwhile said in terms of efficiency and effectiveness the cost of upgrading Block 52 would be very high and therefore the choice fell to improving the capability of F-16s Block 32.
He said a squadron of F-16s Block 52 from its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, cost around US$1.6 billion while six
F-16s Block 52 would cost US$720 million. "The budget available for the procurement meanwhile is only US$430 million," he said. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
