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Jokowi cancels European helicopter purchase
AgustaWestland (AW 101) helicopter
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AgustaWestland (AW 101) helicopter. (setkab.go.id) (AW 101) helicopter. (setkab.go.id)
AgustaWestland (AW 101) helicopter. (setkab.go.id)
President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has rejected an Indonesian Air Force plan to buy new AW101 helicopters that were intended for use by VVIPs such as himself, the Vice President and state guests.
According to the President, the purchase of the helicopters manufactured by Rome-based company AgustaWestland was too expensive, especially considering current domestic economic conditions that have not yet fully taken off.
'After taking into account a variety of factors, the President has decided to invalidate the purchase of the AW101 helicopters,' said Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung on Thursday as quoted on kompas.com.
Pramono said that Jokowi intended to continue using the current Super Puma helicopter that has been in use for the past 25 years and in the future, the government also planned to buy a spare helicopter that will be partly built in Indonesia.
Pramono added that the price of a new helicopter was considered too high in current economic conditions.
Jokowi delivered four instructions during a limited Cabinet meeting to discuss the primary weaponry defense systems (Alutsista) of the Indonesian Military and the National Police.
Firstly, Jokowi said that Alutsista procurement must be in accordance with certain TNI regulations for the period 2010-2024, the defense force's strategic plan for 2015-2019, and the plan of the Defense Industry Policy Committee (KKIP).
'Secondly, and it needs to be stressed, that procurement processes must be done [with] accountability and transparency,' Jokowi says.
Thirdly, he added, Alutsista procurement must be done in a way that promotes the independence of the national defense industry.
Fourthly, Jokowi continued, Alutsista procurement must strengthen the operational integration between the various weaponry systems.
Air Force chief of staff Air Marshall Agus Supriatna previously planned to purchase three AW101s for use by VVIPs.
Lawmakers and members of the public have slammed the procurement plan, which local news outlets reported would cost US$55 million per helicopter. (liz/bbn)
