( RIA Novosti ) - Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi will sign a memorandum of understanding on the delivery of six fighter jets to Indonesia, the company said Tuesday. The future $300-million contract stipulates the delivery of three Su-27 SKM and three Su-30MK2 to the Indonesian Air Force, in addition to two Su-27SK single-seat and two Su-30MKK twin-seat fighters, supplied under a 2003 contract worth $192 million. The company made the announcement at the MAKS-2007, an aviation exhibition held every two years, which opened Tuesday in the town of Zhukovsky, near the Russian capital. This year's event attracted over 540 Russian companies and at least 240 foreign firms from over 100 countries. Indonesian Armed Forces Commander Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto said earlier that the country needed at least one squadron equipped with 16 Sukhoi fighters to replace part of the outdated fleet of U.S. F-16 fighters. Some sources report that Indonesia might be seeking a $1-billion loan from Russia to pay for the fighters and finance the possible acquisition of a Russian-made Project 636 Kilo-class diesel submarine.
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