Indonesia plans to bolster its turboprop fleet by acquiring additional PZL-Meilec M28 Skytrucks and Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) NC-212s and CN-235s.
Industry sources say three further NC-212s are being acquired for navy maritime surveillance missions and at least three more CN-235s for air force maritime patrol missions. Indonesia has also agreed to buy 10 M28s for navy transport and possibly maritime surveillance missions, but this requires finance ministry approval.
Indonesia wants to expand its maritime surveillance and patrol fleets to improve its detection of pirates. Two maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) are also needed for new joint patrols over the straits of Malacca with Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Jakarta has been working on acquiring M28s since 2003 under its expanded ties with Warsaw. The Indonesian police force has already taken delivery of four M28s and Jakarta earlier this year negotiated a deal for a further 10 Sky Trucks to be financed by Poland.
But sources say Indonesia’s finance ministry still has not signed off on the purchase and EADS Casa and IAe are lobbying the government to acquire NC-212s instead. IAe and PZL earlier discussed setting up an M28 assembly line in Indonesia, but sources say no agreement was reached and the talks are no longer active.
The navy last year took delivery of its first NC-212 for maritime surveillance and IAe is now completing three more aircraft for delivery next year. IAe has also been awarded a long-delayed contract for three CN-235 MPAs to be operated by the air force. The first aircraft will be completed next September and delivered early in 2007 after installation of a mission suite from France’s Thales. IAe expects to be awarded a follow-on contract for several further CN-235 MPAs next year.
Indonesia currently uses 737 Surveillers for high-altitude maritime patrol. The CN-235s will provide a medium-altitude solution, and the NC-212s will provide low-altitude surveillance.
BRENDAN SOBIE/JAKARTA
Source: Flight International
