Indonesian air force to ground aging planes

The Indonesian Air Force said Monday it planned to ground aging planes including British-made Hawk MK-53s and U.S.-made OV-10 Broncos while at the same time seeking replacement from other countries.

"We are now preparing to change old jet fighter Hawk MK-53s and training plane OV-10s whose airworthiness expire in 2010," Air Force Chief Air Marshal Herman Prayitno told reporters here.

The Air Force currently has six Hawks and eight Broncos, both will be above 30 years by 2010.

Prayitno said the Air Force has been contacting planes manufacturers in China, Czech Republic, South Korea and Brazil to select replacement for the two types of airplane.

In an interview with English daily The Jakarta Post published Monday, Prayitno said the current condition of the Air Force's planes is that less than 50 percent are ready, on average.

"For example, of our 10 F-16 jet fighters, only four are ready to fly," he said.

He said over the next 15 to 20 years, the Air Force will have at least 10 fighting squadrons from the current seven squadrons.

Source: Xinhua