Indonesian Army to buy 13 helicopters from Russia

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen Djoko Santoso said the Army would buy 10 MI-17 and three MI-35 helicopters from Russia.

"Besides, we will also buy some missiles from China and Poland," he said after officiating at ceremony marking the transfer of duties of the Brawijaya Command chief from Maj Gen Syamsul Mappareppa to Maj Gen Bambang Suranto here on Wednesday.

But to meet its need for weapons and combat equipment the Army would rely on products of the local arms industry, namely state-owned PT Pindad which was already capable of making long-barrel arms, mortars and combat vehicles.

He said the needed money would be from the state export credit budget (US$120 million) and other budgets (Rp500 billion).

Among those who attended the transfer-of-duties ceremony were also former East Java governor M Noer and former Brawijaya Command chief Lt Gen Moergito.