Indonesian Navy to receive new naval helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft from PTDI

An Airbus Helicopters AS565MBe Panther naval helicopter of the TNI-AL dropping a torpedo during a demonstration. The helicopter is seen without ASW gear installed.

The Indonesian Ministry of Defence (MOD) received new aircraft from state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) in a ceremony in Bandung on 24 January 2019.

Based on information posted by Indonesian defense page Angkasa Review, the aircraft delivered are composed of Airbus Helicopters AS565MBe Panther naval helicopters (with serial numbers 7021, 7402, 7403, 7406 and 7047), and a CN-235-220 maritime patrol aircraft (with serial number N067). All aircraft were ordered for the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL).

Ten (10) Panther helicopters were ordered in September 2014, while two (2) CN-235-220 MPA were ordered in January 2013. The delivery yesterday completed the orders for both contracts, as PTDI already delivered 5 AS565MBe Panther helicopters to the TNI-AL as of February 2018, while a CN-235-220MPA was delivered to the TNI-AL last January 2018.

It appears that all Panther helicopters are not yet configured for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), which PTDI will be performing for all 10 helicopters. So far, only 1 helicopter is undergoing the refitting, while another helicopter is scheduled to have the same refitting work. Both will be delivered to the TNI-AL within 2019.

Airbus Helicopters manufactured the Panther helicopters on behalf of PT Dirganatara Indonesia, which in turn is in-charge of re-assembly and installation of mission equipment. PTDI is also part of the development of the CN-235 tactical transport aircraft together with Spanish aircraft manufacturer CASA (now part of Airbus Group), and built the aircraft locally.

The CN-235-220MPA is currently the mainstay maritime patrol aircraft of the Indonesian Navy, with an initial 3 units ordered in 2009 and the first unit delivered in 2013, and an additional 1 unit delivered last year.  The aircraft are equipped with a surface search radar with a range of 200 nautical miles, forward looking infra-red (FLIR), and automatic identification system (AIS).



[1] Angkasan Review
[2] Flight Global
[3] Navy Recognition
[4] Garuda Militer