Eurofighter Mulls Typhoon Sale, Assembly in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, London - British fighter aircraft manufacturer Eurofighter is reviewing the possibility of assembling its Typhoon jet in Indonesia. The Eurofighter Consortium, made up of four nations Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, said they fully support the plan, which will be discussed in the 2014 Indo Defense exhibition.

Eurofighter Consortium chief executive, Alberto Gutierrez, said they are ready to cooperate with the Indonesian aviation industry to develop the Typhoon, claimed to be one of the world's most advanced fighter jets.

Gutierrez said there had "already been a number of useful meetings" between interested parties but it was 'too early" to go into detail, defensenews reported.

With US$1 billion in hand, Indonesia will bring 16 fighter jets in stages. Therefore, Indonesia needs a defense contractor as a partner for local companies that will help assemble the aircraft.

Doug Bari, an air analyst from the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said Indonesia's move in modernizing its air force is amazing. "But we have to wait and see how far the realization goes," he said.

The Eurofighter Consortium will show-case its Typhoon jets at the 2014 Indo Defense exhibition in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, starting today until November 8, 2014. 

THE FINANCIAL TIMES | HUSSEIN ABRI YUSUF