Singapore Air Force’s F-15 and F-16 fly by each other during the aerial display on the opening day of the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Bryan van der Beek) |
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Singapore.
Indonesia on Wednesday signed a $325 million contract with Airbus Military for
nine C-295 transport planes to be used for defense, logistical and humanitarian
purposes.
The first
plane will be sent to the Southeast Asian nation this year, with the remainder
scheduled for delivery by 2014.
“This is a
proud moment for our country as well as for the Indonesian aerospace industry,”
said Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, at the signing of the
deal at the Singapore Airshow.
“The C-295
provides the ideal capacity to respond to Indonesia’s current and future
military and humanitarian transport needs,” he added.
The model
is a medium-sized transport plane which can be configured for different
operational purposes such as ground surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and
search and rescue operations.
The planes
will be used for “a variety of roles including military, logistical,
humanitarian and medical evacuation missions,” according to a statement.
Yusgiantoro
did not rule out future purchases of the C-295, saying other branches of the
armed forces were interested in the plane.
“The police
for instance... are also interested in this. And you know that (the) 295 version
that we ordered now is for the Air Force, and probably the army is also
interested,” he said.
The deal
includes a collaboration between state-owned aviation firm PT Dirgantara
Indonesia (PTDI) and Airbus Military, with Indonesia manufacturing parts for
the C-295.
The
partnership will allow the Indonesian firm to “grow its aerospace business as a
tier-one supplier,” said PTDI Chief Executive Budi Santoso.
“This will
position PTDI on the global aerospace scene and allow us to enhance our skills
and workforce,” he added.
Indonesia’s
defense budget totalled $6.39 billion in 2011, ranking second in Southeast Asia
behind Singapore.
Agence France-Presse
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