Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Indonesian Aircraft Company To Complete 3 Super Pumas For Indonesian Air Force

Indonesian Aircraft Company To Complete 3 Super Pumas For Indonesian Air Force (NSI News Source Info) JAKARTA - March 5, 2009: Indonesia's state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) will soon complete production of three Super Puma helicopters ordered by the Air Force, a spokesman said. PT DI had previously finished the production of seven out of 16 Super Puma helicopters ordered by the Air Force, said Budi Santoso, PT DI president director, here Monday. Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) (Indonesian: PT. Dirgantara Indonesia (DI)) was an Indonesian aerospace company in Asia with core competence in aircraft design, development and manufacturing of civilian and military regional commuter aircraft. The company formerly known as Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN) or Industri Pesawat Terbang Nurtanio (IPTN). Indonesian Aerospace covers an area of 86,98 ha. The backbone of the production are sustained by 232 high tech machineries and equipments. Apart from these, there are other minor high-tech equipments spread over in various assembly lines, laboratories, and service & maintenance units. They are located mainly in Bandung. "Of the remaining nine units, three are in the process of completion, one is 90 per cent completed and is expected to fly in the next two months, and two units are 60-70 per cent completed," Santoso said. The orders for 16 Super Puma NAS 332 helicopters and their spareparts were formlaized in purchase contract No. 1010 made in 1998. The completed seven helicopters had been delivered to the Air Force but production of the remaining nine units had been hampered by a shortage of funds. With the planned completion of three Super Puma NAS 332 helicopters, the Indonesian Air Force would get 10 units of its 16 orders. "The remaining (6 helicopters), will be modified into Super Puma II or Cougars which have newer technologies," the PT DI chief said. The modifications, to be made in cooperation with Eurocopter of France, would enable the Super Puma II to dominate the military helicopter market in the Asian region, he said.

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