SINGAPORE, September 3. /TASS/. Indonesia intends to sign a contract with Russia in September to purchase 16 Sukhoi Su-35 (NATO reporting name: Flanker-E) fighter jets, the Indonesian news agency ANTARA reported on Thursday.

"A decision was made to decommission US F-5 Tiger fighter jets and purchase Russian aircraft instead of them," the agency quoted Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu as saying.

"The purchase will be made gradually, depending on the financial possibilities of the country’s government," he said.

Therefore, "the Indonesian Air Force will operate aircraft made by China, Russia and the United States," he added.