{"success": true, "content": "\n\n\n    \n<div class=\"text-block\"><p>Boeing has held high level cooperation discussions with Indonesian defence officials in a move that may pave the way for procurement of the CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter.</p>\r\n<p>According to Indonesia\u2019s Department of Defence, Boeing was exploring \u2018Chinook cooperation with Indonesia\u2019, and an accompanying photo on its website on 12 February showed Yeong-Tae Pak, Boeing\u2019s vice-president for Indonesia and Malaysia, presenting a Chinook scale model to Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu.</p>\r\n<p>The statement said possible cooperation would help develop Indonesia\u2019s \u2018land and marine fleets\u2019, perhaps indicating Indonesian interest in the Chinook by both the army and navy.</p>\r\n<p>These discussions should not come as a surprise. Jim Armington, vice president of the East Asia &amp; Pacific business development section of Boeing Defense, Space &amp; Security, told Shephard Media at LIMA 2013, \u2018Currently, we see opportunities for significant growth in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia, and down the road, Vietnam.\u2019</p>\r\n<p>Armington added, \u2018We have helicopters like the CH-47 Chinook too. We have a big presence in Japan and there\u2019s a lot of interest in Southeast Asia, particularly in archipelagic nations and with the importance of humanitarian assistance missions.\u2019</p>\r\n<p>Indeed, Indonesia expressed interest in obtaining four examples of the twin-engine Chinook in 2005 in the wake of the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami. At that time Indonesia aspired to acquire surplus US Army Chinooks through the US\u2019s Cargo Helicopter Airframe Procurement Support (CHAPS) programme, although it did not eventuate.</p>\r\n<p>Indonesia\u2019s armed forces are deficient in heavy-lift rotary-winged assets. Such a capability would be invaluable for disaster relief missions in an archipelago regularly hit by earthquakes, storms and volcanic eruptions.</p>\r\n<p>Last year the Indonesian Army outlined plans to obtain at least three Chinooks that could be used for disaster relief, and to shuttle troops and equipment between islands. With tensions rising in the South China Sea over China\u2019s assertive territorial claims, such a flexible airlift capacity is becoming more urgent.</p>\r\n<p>It is unclear whether local assembly may be an option for Indonesia, as this would depend on the numbers it needs. Indonesia\u2019s aerospace industry resides primarily within PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), which currently license-builds Bell and Airbus Helicopters platforms. PTDI also produces Airbus aircraft.</p>\r\n<p>The US imposed an arms embargo on Indonesia from 1991 till 2005 because of atrocities committed by members of the armed forces in Timor-Leste.</p>\r\n<p>This embargo adversely affected the serviceability of Jakarta\u2019s US-built military equipment, but relations with Washington are blooming again.</p>\r\n<p>Certainly, Boeing\u2019s relations with Indonesia received a boost when the sale of eight Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters was confirmed on 26 January 2015. This Foreign Military</p>\r\n<p>Sale (FMS) valued at $295.9 million will be completed by February 2018, and four of the Apaches will be based on the Natuna Islands in the South China Sea.</p></div>\n\n\n"}