Antara News, Thursday, December 30, 2010
Bogor, West
Java (ANTARA News) - Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro handed over a NAS-332
Super Puma helicopter made by PT Dirgantara Indonesia to the Indonesian Air
Force at Atang Sendjaja airbase, Bogor, West Java, on Thursday.
"Our
plan is for the Air Force to have nine helicopters. Now it already has seven
units, including the one we handed over today. Two other units are still being
manfactured by PT DI," the ministers said.
Purnomo
said six units had been made earlier by PT DI, four of which were used for SAR
operations and the two others for VVIP service.
He said he
had cooperated with PT DI for the production of the helicopters because he
wished to use domestic products for strengthening the country`s defense.
He said the
procurement of the Super Puma was for increasing the defense capability. Even
in 2010 a blueprint (the minimum essential force-MEF) has been formulated
regarding the country`s needs for defense equipment until 2024 including
"the strength of operational units, weaponry and the budget."
"Therefore
in the leadership meeting to be held on January 6, 2011 I would ask the TNI
(defense forces) to conduct a review again so that no item would be left
unnoticed," he said.
Squadron 8
at Atang Sandjaja has eight SA-330 Puma helicopters and based on the MEF plan
it would be strengthened with 16 units more of Helicopter EC-725.
NAS-332
Super Puma is capable of carriying two crew and 18 to 24 passengers and is 16.9
meter long and weighs 4,460 kilograms. It has a maximum speed of 278 kilometers
per hour and may fly at altitude of more than 7,200 meters high or 19,750 feet.
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