The government will buy 18 Sukhoi fighter jets in a deal estimated at RM3.4 billion (US$900 million), Defence Minister Najib Razak said today after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov.

Najib said the purchase for the Royal Malaysian Air Force formed part of Malaysia's military upgrading programme, which has been revived after it was derailed by the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis.

"We are happy to announce that Malaysia has agreed to buy 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM aircraft," Najib told a joint news conference.