JAKARTA, June 23 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indonesian Air Force plans to buy 12 Russia-made Sukhoi jet fighters in the next two years as an addition to the four Sukhois already in service, Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshall Djoko Suyanto said here Thursday.

    The purchase deal for six Sukhois is expected to take place this year and the deal for another six will be signed in 2006, Djoko said in a hearing with the House of Representatives' commission one overseeing defense and foreign affairs.

    He said the purchase will cost 666.73 million US dollars.

    "We hope the commission one can convince the government to materialize our plan," he told the legislators.

    He did not elaborate which type of Sukhoi would be selected. Indonesia already bought two Sukhoi 27s and two Sukhoi 30s, all are unarmed, during the Megawati Soekarnoputri administration.

    On the occasion, Djoko said the Air Force would need a budget of 21.9 trillion rupiah (around 2.3 billion dollars) for fiscal year 2006, but the government has agreed only some 11 percent of the proposed budget. Enditem