By The Middle Of 2020, PTDI Sends Indonesian Armed Forces Orders

PINDAINEWS, Jakarta - The presence of the Red and White strategic industry, one of which, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) (Persero), should, optimally and positively, be utilized for the sake of domestic interests.

PT DI's various products are proven to have global quality. Not surprisingly, many parties, not only domestic institutions, such as the TNI, formed a partnership with the SOE institution that was formerly called the Nusantara Aircraft Industry (IPTN), but also corporations or foreign governments.

The latest news, in mid-2020, PT DI (Persero) began sending helicopters ordered by the Army after the completion of customization (adjustment) of the aircraft, which included the installation of radio communications, radar, GPS, including weaponry.

"The maximum, the submission lasts two years. But, we try as soon as possible. If it has been customizing, testing, and training, it will take approximately six months. Hopefully by mid 2020, it can be delivered," said VP Aircraft PT IN Sales , Ibnu Bintarto, Wednesday (11/27/2019).

In the case of supplying the Indonesian Army helicopter, PT DI cooperates with Bell Textron, a United States (US) corporation in the field of helicopter production. The two companies signed a contract to procure 9 helicopters on December 28, 2018. However, the signing between the lender and the Ministry of Finance only took place on November 15, 2019.

The cooperation between the two companies is covered by the Industrial and Commercial Agreement (ICA) and the Certified Maintenance Center (CMC) which were signed in 2012 and in 2016, an additional validity period occurred. The collaboration allows the two companies to expand their support and services in Indonesia for Bell helicopter operators.

The cooperation also allows PT DI (Persero) to produce helicopter components. For example, the tail boom, door assembly, to the doorposts for Bell 412 series helicopters ordered by the TNI. "After the process, he estimated, at the end of December 2019, the advance would come in. It means that it would only go ahead. We have 24 months to do the customization," Ibnu continued.

Ibnu revealed, in the initial stages, the buying process was quite burdened financially. The reason, it must first buy. While government funds, he said, have not yet been received by him. "There are indeed some critical ones because we bought from several other vendors for the two years," he said.

For the procurement of nine helicopters, the government poured 180 million US dollars over two years, according to a maximum period of 24 months for helicopter adjustments.

Through cooperation with Bell, in total, PT DI sent 63 units of ordered helicopters to its customers. Procurement of 9 helicopters in 2019, as many as 2 of them, arrived at the PT DI Bandung facility. Then, 7 other units were immediately sent by Bell.