Rear Admiral Rachmat Lubis who represented the Defense Ministry received the maritime patrol aircraft from PT DI president director Budi Santoso, witnessed by Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro during the hand-over ceremony at the country’s aircraft manufacturer facility in Bandung, West Java.
The CN-235 MPA is the first of three aircraft ordered by the Navy, will be based at the Juanda Naval Base in Surabaya, East Java. The remaining two aircraft will be delivered by end of 2013 and first quarter of 2014.
According to Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, the planes were ordered on a trading contract worth US$80 million signed in December 2009 to assist in controling over 5,800 thousand square kilometers of Indonesia’s territorial waters.
“Indonesia actually needs 33 NC212 and 21 CN235 MPA aircraft to control its territory,” he said.
Angkasa noted, currently the Indonesian Navy operates several NC212 maritime patrol aircraft in its fleet.
Adding to the minister’s statement, Navy Chief-of-Staff Admiral Marsetio said up to year 2024 the Indonesia Navy would be strengthen with a fleet of 54 aircraft comprising of 21 CN-235s and 33 NC-212s.
“On the first phase, five CN-235s has been ordered of which two planes will be delivered in 2015,” said the Navy Chief-of-Staff.
According to Budi Santoso, the twin-engine CT7-9C turboprop CN-235 MPA plane delivered, is a medium class aircraft which is equipped with a patrollling facility and has the superiority to control a wide sea territory such as the vast Indonesian waters.
He added, beside Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey also operates the maritime patrol aircraft CN-235 MPA.
Budi Santoso said, other nations operating CN-235 type aircraft were Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Senegal and Burkina Faso.(ds)
More Pictures CN 235 MPA posted by Kopassus :
● Angkasa
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar
Catatan: Hanya anggota dari blog ini yang dapat mengirim komentar.