Air Force to get new T-50i jet fighters

T50i Golden Eagle TNI AU (Suromenggolo)

Jakarta ★ The Air Force is preparing to operate 16 new South Korean-made T-50i jet fighters. The jets, which are now kept at the Defense Ministry’s facility, will be officially handed over to Air Force on Thursday at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force base.

Col. Iwan Agung of the Air Force said initially the handing- over ceremony was planned to be held at the Iswahyudi Military Air base in Madiun. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro were slated to attend the ceremony.

Yudhoyono’s presence was part of inspection toward the military main weapon system.

“However, due to high officials’ activities, the ceremony then being held at the Halim Perdanakusumah Airbase,” he said as quoted by Antara news wire on Tuesday.

He said the new fighter jets would be placed at the Iswahyudi Air base, along with the F-16 fighting jets squadron. Air Force’s Grob and Sukhoi squadrons were also scheduled to show off their abilities at the event.

  ♞ The Jakarta Post