Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) will have eight squadrons of fighter jets by 2024, said Air Force Chief of Staff, Marshal Yuyu Sutisna.

To face the increasingly complex duties in the future, the TNI AU will continue to develop and improve its strength, Indonesia’s Antara news agency quoted Marshal Yuyu Sutisna as saying at the Air Force Unit Command School (Sekkau) on June 7.

The ongoing 20-year plan to develop the TNI AU`s strength between 2005 and 2024 included the building up of eight squadrons of fighter jets, he said, adding that the squadrons will each have 16 fighter jets, with their preparedness averaging 80 percent.

The TNI AU will also build six squadrons of light, medium and heavy duty transport planes, each with 16 aircraft, Marshal Yuyu Sutisna said. These squadrons were aimed at supporting the mobility of troops and logistics in trouble spots, he added.

When it comes to transport planes, the TNI AU will replace its C-1308s with IL-76/A-400/C-17, and has replaced F-27 Fokker/CN-235 with CN-295/C-27 Spartan, he said.

In 2017, Indonesia planned to buy five Airbus Defence and Space (DS) A400M Atlas multi-role transport aircraft with total value of about 2 billion USD.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said on June 5 that Indonesia will purchase five new Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transportation aircraft from the US.

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in February this year received a total of 24 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from the US at Iswahyudi Air Force Base in Malang, East Java of Indonesia.-VNA
VNA