Risky airplane?
Markus Junianto Sihaloho
New Sukhoi Jets ‘Attacked’ by Malfunctions
Two of the Air Force’s three new Russian-made Sukhoi jet fighters were struck with what are believed to be minor mechanical problems during a training session over the Makassar Strait on Friday.
Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Chaeruddin Ray said two SU-30MK2 fighters, each flown by one Indonesian and one Russian pilot, were undergoing interception exercises when an alarm signalled in both aircraft that they were under attack from a foreign jet fighter.
The pilots reported the warnings to the Makassar Airbase, which ordered both fighters to return to base where they landed without incident, Chaeruddin said.
He rejected suggestions that there was another aircraft trying to engage the two Sukhois, saying radar evidence around Makassar had not detected any other fighter aircraft above Sulawesi Island.
“After the report [from the Sukhoi pilots], a surveillance aircraft was also deployed to search, but no other aircraft was found.”
Chaeruddin said data collected by the Air Force led to the conclusion that the two Sukhois’ “lock system,” which detects enemy weapons targeting, had malfunctioned.
“Technicians from Russia are already [at Makassar Airbase] to check and repair the aircraft,” he said.
The Air Force previously dealt with an unnerving incident in 2003 when two of its F-16 jet fighters made contact with five F-18 Hornet jet fighters belonging to the US Navy, which had earlier been found maneuvering above Bawean Island, Central Java Province, for more than two hours.
Both sides’ jet fighters were close to firing at each other as the F-18 fighters went into attack mode and had their missiles locked on Indonesia’s planes.
It ended with a communication of peace between the pilots after one of the F-16 fighters was able to indicate they were not a threat.
Jakarta Globe