First AS565 MBe Panthers arrive in Indonesia
Two base AS565 MBe Panther platforms have arrived in Indonesia for completion by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), Airbus Helicopters announced on 29 March.
The Indonesian Navy has 11 AS565 MBe Panthers on order with Airbus Helicopters. The aircraft are being equipped by PTDI with an anti-submarine warfare suite, which includes a dipping sonar and torpedo. The first two will be fitted out and delivered by the middle of 2017.
Airbus Helicopters and PTDI are cooperating on a number of programmes for the Indonesian armed forces, delivering one H215M and two H225M helicopters to the Indonesia Air Force, and two armed scout Fennec helicopters to the Indonesian Army.
The two Fennec rotorcraft delivered in January 2017 are the first armed scout units for the Indonesian Army. Together with the first unit delivered in 2015, these three helicopters will be used for pilot training. The remaining nine of the 12 ordered will be delivered this year.
The two H225Ms delivered in mid March to the air force are the third and fourth of a batch of six units on contract. The remaining deliveries are set to be completed within the next few weeks. The fleet will be deployed for CSAR.
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