PTDI purchases six EC725 for air force

Eurocopter has announced that PT Dirgantara Indonesian (PTDI) Aerospace has purchased six EC725 aircraft for combat SAR missions.

A statement from Eurocopter on 5 April said that the helicopters are due to be delivered in 2014, and PTDI will customise and deliver these configured helicopters to the Indonesian Air Force under a contract signed with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence on 12 March.

The multi-role helicopter will be shipped to PTDI's facility in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.

‘The selection of the EC725 by the air force is a renewed demonstration of the confidence that the Indonesian Air Force has in the Super Puma family of helicopters and enables Eurocopter to further strengthen its long standing relationship with Indonesian Aerospace relating to the Super Puma family,’ Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior VP for Sales and Customer Relations said in the statement. 

As well as building several SA330 Puma and AS332 Super Puma under license in Bandung for the Air Force, PTDI has held a contract with Eurocopter since 2008 for the manufacture of EC225 and EC725 tail booms and complete airframe assemblies, the statement said.

‘This contract for the EC725 will propel Indonesian Aerospace into a new era of co-operation with Eurocopter, enhancing the company's capabilities at the forefront of rotorcraft technology,’ Budi Santoso, President Director of PTDI said. 

‘The twin-engine EC725/EC225 rotary-wing aircraft family features high-performance navigation and mission systems, including a unique digital four-axis autopilot,’ the statement explained.

‘Offering excellent flight autonomy, this powerful machine is also great for tactical transport as it has a large cabin with seating for 25 persons. As a result, the EC725 military version and its EC225 civilian/parapublic variant have become the reference for civil and military.’