By The Middle Of 2020, PT DI Starts Dispatching Helicopters Order by the Indonesian Army

JawaPos.com - In mid 2020, the plan is that PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero) / PTDI will start sending helicopters ordered by the Indonesian Army. That's after they completed the process of adjusting or customizing the aircraft.

PTDI Sales Aircraft VP Ibnu Bintarto said, the delivery of helicopters was expected to be carried out in a maximum of two years after funding entered in, or in 2021. However, his side was trying to complete it as soon as possible.

"When it is customizing, testing, training, it takes about six months. Hopefully in the middle of next year, or maybe December can be delivered, "he said as reported by Antara on Wednesday (11/27).

He further explained, PT DI worked with a company from the United States, Bell Textron, in providing helicopters for the Army. The two companies signed a contract to procure nine helicopters on December 28, 2018.

However, the signing between the lender and the Ministry of Finance was only carried out on November 15, 2019. "After the process, it is estimated that at the end of December the down payment will come in, meaning that it will only go ahead. We have 24 months to do the customization, "he said.

For information, the government disbursed USD 180 million to procure nine helicopters. Two of the helicopters have arrived at PT DI's facilities in Bandung, West Java. While the remaining seven helicopters are ready to be sent by Bell.