Jet Storm

The planned 'gift' of a fleet of F-16 fighter jets from the United States worth US$430 million is being held up by the DPR. The legislators are insisting that the planes must be new. A middleman is lobbying a number of senior air force officers, who are now divided on the issue.

October 19, 2011

THE three-star general looked upset. On the last Friday of August, Air Marshal Eris Herryanto, Secretary-General of the Defense Ministry, gathered the participants of a meeting to discuss the 'gift' of 24 F-16 fighter jets from the US.

"This is not healthy!" said Eris, getting a bit emotional. He raised his voice in front of about 30 senior and mid-level air force officers, according to a Tempo source. Eris went on, "I know exactly who is thinking for

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