President of Indonesia  Joko Widodo will visit Russia in the third week of May to participate in the Russia-ASEAN Summit and will witness the signing of an agreement to purchase eight 4.5-generation Sukhoi Su-35, a minister stated.

Speaking to journalists here, Tuesday, Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu affirmed that the plan to purchase eight 4.5-generation Sukhoi Su-35 jet fighters was made after Indonesia bought 24 Sukhoi 27/30 aircraft reported by www.antaranews.com.

Prior to his visit to Russia to attend the Russia-ASEAN Summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, President Widodo will visit South Korea. The two-nation tour will be undertaken on May 16-20.

According to Salim Mengga, a member of the House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs and information, the purchase of Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft was aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the Indonesian Defence Force.

The Sukhoi Su-35 (NATO reporting name: Flanker-E) is a designation for two separate, heavily upgraded derivatives of the Su-27 ‘Flanker’ jet plane. They are single-seat, twin-engine,supermaneuverable multirole fighters, designed by Sukhoi and built by Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO).