Jakarta  - Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Air Marshal Imam Sufaat said there was an urgent need to replace the force`s Hawk MK-53 aircraft.

"We will propose the replacement again to the Defense Ministry," he stated after officiating the transfer of the duties of the chief of the Air Force Education Command (Kodikau) from Vice Air Marshal Sukirno to Air Commodore Daryatmo here Monday.

The Air Force had previously already submitted a request for the replacement of its Hawk MK-53s and OV-10 Broncos in 2008 and 2009.

"The proposal for the OV-10 Broncos` replacement has already been approved, while that for substitutes for our Hawk MK-53s is still under discussion. But we will renew our proposal," Sufaat said.

Meanwhile, the Air Force was still considering by what type of aircraft its MK-53s should be replaced.

There were at least five alternatives for the MK-53s` replacement, namely L-159B from the Czech Republic, Yak-130 from Russia, the Italian Aermacchi M346, Chengdu FTC-2000/JL-9 from China, and B-50 from South Korea, he said.

The Air Force chief further said the force had set up a Sector Command in Biak, West Papua, which would manage and operate three Ground Control Interception (GCI) and Early Warning (EW) radar units installed in Saumlaki, Timika and Merauke.

He said the Air Force would also set up four more anti air attack (PSU) units, acquire three more reconnaissance mission aircraft as well as weapons such as missiles and other kinds of aircraft ammunition.

Air Force missions had been sent abroad to explore the possibilities of procuring aircraft, radars, and various weapons. The countries visited were South Korea, Brazil, Russia and the Czech Republic (for aircraft), to France, the United States and Italy (for radars), Spain, Switzerland, Poland, South Africa, England and Holland (for anti-air armament) and Russia, Yugoslavia, South Africa and China (for other weapons). (*)