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Jokowi rejects European helicopter procurement
President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo has decided to reject an Indonesian Air Force plan to procure helicopters from Italian-British manufacturing company AgustaWestland to replace the existing VVIP helicopter Super Puma following a limited Cabinet meeting held to discuss primary weaponry systems (Alutsista)
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resident Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has decided to reject an Indonesian Air Force plan to procure helicopters from Italian-British manufacturing company AgustaWestland to replace the existing VVIP helicopter Super Puma following a limited Cabinet meeting held to discuss primary weaponry systems (Alutsista).
'After some consideration and after listening to a number of inputs, the President has decided not to approve the proposal to purchase the 'Merlin' AgustaWestland AW101,' Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung told a press conference at the Presidential Office after the meeting on Thursday.
According to Pramono, Jokowi based his decision on arguments that the existing VVIP helicopter Super Puma, which has been used for the past 25 years, 'can still be used optimally' and that 'due to current financial conditions, the price is considered too high'.
A number of lawmakers have slammed the procurement plan, while state-owned weaponry maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) has reportedly suggested that the government buy instead a helicopter fitted with bulletproof material, the EC-725 Cougar, also known as the Super Cougar, 20 percent of which is made by PT DI.
A 2012 law on the defense industry requires a transfer of technology into Indonesia from any country it products are ordered from.
The President, Pramono added, would continue using the Super Puma, although, at the same time, said that any future procurement of a VVIP helicopter should be in line with regulations on the transfer of technology.
Jokowi also said it would be better to buy the one which required assembly in the country or the one made by a local company, according to Pramono.
Concern over the need to procure a new VVIP helicopter as a 'back-up for the Super Puma' remain as Indonesia is an archipelago and Jokowi moves around a lot, Pramono added.
The State Palace previously defended the Air Force's plan to buy three AW101s worth around US$40 million each, saying that the new aircraft, which would also be used by other VVIPs, including the Vice President and state guests, would be crucial to support Jokowi's busy schedule, calling it a necessity for safety, not a luxury.
Air Force commander Air Marshal Agus Supriatna has said that the budget for the procurement had been included in the Air Force's 2015-2019 strategic plan and had also undergone a review by the Air Force's VVIP Squadron and Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters. Agus has also revealed that he had expected the first helicopter to arrive in the country next year followed by two more in 2017.
Following Jokowi's decision, deputy Air Force commander Vice Marshal Hadiyan Sumintaatmadja said the Air Force would obey, adding that the corps would study thoroughly any future plan to procure back-ups for the existing VVIP Super Puma.
'That's his decision; we are obeying it,' said Hadiyan, representing Agus, who is currently on a working trip abroad, at Thursday's limited Cabinet meeting. 'We understand that the government has priorities due to these current economic conditions.'
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