The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Laksmana Yudo Margono: Helicopters Required For Integrated Fleet Weapon System

The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, Admiral TNI Yudo Margono, inspects the Bell 505 single engine training helicopter (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL), Admiral National Armed Forces (TNI) Yudo Margono, said helicopters were urgently needed for the Navy's tasks in the Integrated Fleet Weapon System.

"This is because in addition to carrying out submarine warfare duties, helicopters are also used to transport personnel in order to move ships to the coast to transport Marines to targets on land," he said, after witnessing the handover of two Bell 505 single-engine training helicopters at the Museum apron. Juanda Flight, Sidoarjo, East Java, reported by Antara, Wednesday, December 8

He said the pilots had also been prepared so that the presence of this training helicopter would increase the professionalism of the soldiers, especially helicopter pilots in carrying out their main tasks. "One of them is in anti-submarine warfare and also shifting personnel from ship to land," he said.

He said the Indonesian Navy also needed maritime reconnaissance aircraft which were the main task of the Navy. In its doctrine, the Indonesian Navy adheres to the operating doctrine of the Integrated Fleet Weapon System, which is an amalgamation of operations between warships, military aircraft, TNI-Navy (AL) bases, and Marine Corps personnel of the Indonesian Navy as a landing force that seizes and controls the targeted land.

"Currently, the Indonesian Navy only has eight fixed-wing aircraft with very large needs with borders of 10 countries that have vulnerabilities. So they don't rely on the KRI which continuously patrols. Because by relying on these aircraft, then the KRI will come to follow up," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bell 505 training helicopter is a helicopter developed by Bell Textron Canada, the latest generation of Bell Textron which is fuel-efficient.

In addition, it is also equipped with a sophisticated avionics circuit so that it is appropriate to use in order to support the improvement of the qualifications of pilots and Indonesian Navy pilot students.