S

tate-run aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) is working overtime to deliver six Bell-412 EP transport helicopters earlier than scheduled to the Defense Ministry, which will then provide the helicopters on grant to the Indonesian Military (TNI) Army.

“We will accelerate their delivery to support the planned TNI joint training program,” said PT DI managing director Budi Santoso at PT DI’s Rotary Wing hangar in Bandung on Friday.

The delivery of the helicopters was based on a purchase contract worth US$65 million signed on March 6, 2012.

Based on the contract, the helicopters should have been delivered in stages in September, October and November, 2013.

According to Budi, the six Bell-412 helicopters are the latest generation of helicopters able to carry up to 13 persons, and all its instruments are digitalized.

“Each of them is 17 percent more powerful than the seven units that had been delivered earlier,” said Budi, adding they were delivered in August 2012 at Pondok Cabe airport in Jakarta.

He added that PT DI would deliver 16 helicopters of the same type in 2014. “Their total value is $170 million, but the contract is not yet in effect,” he said.

Head of the Defense Facilities Agency at the Defense Ministry Rear, Admiral Rachmad Lubis, said of the 23 ordered helicopters, 15 units would be used as transport helicopters and eight as attack helicopters.

“The six additional units will strengthen the TNI Army attack squadron,” he added.

TNI Army deputy chief-of-staff Let. Gen. Moeldoko said he planned to equip the entire provincial military commands in Indonesia with a helicopter squadron by 2024, each supported by between 24 and 32 helicopters.