Defense Minister Prabowo Hands Over CN235 Plane And 2 Anti-Submarine Helicopters To The Indonesian Navy

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto handed over the Main Weapon System Equipment (Alutsista) produced by the domestic defense industry to the Indonesian Navy (PHOTO: Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto handed over the Main Weapon System Equipment (Alutsista) produced by the domestic defense industry, in the form of 2 Anti-Submarine Helicopters (AKS) and one CN235 MPA aircraft to the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Yudo Margono.

The defense equipment produced by PTDI was received directly by Defense Minister Prabowo from PTDI President Director Gita Amperiawan and then handed over to KSAL Yudo at PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) Aircraft Service Hangar Bandung, Wednesday, June 15.

Defense Minister Prabowo in his remarks emphasized that the government under the leadership of President Joko Widodo is working hard so that as much as possible the budget issued by the government is directed to the domestic defense industry.

"This is our determination to continue to strengthen the domestic defense industry which is very vital for the survival and safety of the nation," said Defense Minister Prabowo as quoted from a written statement by the Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense.

"This nation must be strong. Our nation is a big and rich nation. If we are not strong, our wealth can be robbed. For that, the TNI must be strong in order to protect our wealth," he continued.

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto handed over the Main Weapon System Equipment (Alutsista) produced by the domestic defense industry to the Indonesian Navy (PHOTO: Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense)

For information, the CN235 MPA aircraft that was handed over is the first PTDI aircraft that has been modified and upgraded to all avionic systems using the latest full glass cockpit technology and integrated digital displays, where the TKDN composition reaches 42.56 percent.

With all the modifications and development of the mission system, PTDI has absorbed 122,000 man hours in the Engineering area, of which 30.1 percent are PTDI's proud millennial engineers.

Meanwhile, the number of man hours absorbed in the production area is 393,000 man hours, with the contribution of millennials reaching 40 percent.

Meanwhile, the AS565 MBe Panther helicopter that was handed over was a Naval Version Helicopter, the product of industrial cooperation between PTDI and Airbus Helicopters, which was then continued with the development and integration of AKS by PTDI. PTDI installed the latest variant of torpedo and sonar that was adapted to the needs of the Indonesian Navy.

"Thank you for PTDI's hard work. Keep the trust of the state and nation, achieve high technology, maintain efficiency, we must improve PTDI," said Defense Minister Prabowo.