Indonesian military acquires four Airbus H145 helicopters from Airbus.
The Indonesian Air Force has taken a significant step in modernizing its helicopter fleet with the acquisition of four Airbus H145 helicopters. This order, announced during the Bali International Airshow, marks the first use of the Airbus H145 by the Indonesian Air Force for its training fleet.
The H145, a member of the successful H145 family, boasts more than 7.9 million flight hours worldwide, with over 1,700 in service. The simplicity of its new bearingless main rotor design eases maintenance operations and improves serviceability and reliability, making it an ideal choice for military training and light search-and-rescue missions.
The collaboration between the Indonesian Air Force, Airbus, and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) strengthens their long-standing partnership. PTDI's facility in Bandung, Indonesia, will handle the reassembly, customisation, and mission equipment installation for the H145 helicopters. This cooperation is expected to create new opportunities for the development of the national aerospace industry.
Vincent Dubrule, Head of Asia-Pacific, Airbus Helicopters, expressed confidence that the H145 will positively impact military pilot training and search-and-rescue operations. Gita Amperiawan, President Director of PT Dirgantara Indonesia, shares the sentiment, believing that this industrial cooperation will further solidify Indonesia's position in the global aerospace industry.
The relationship between Airbus Helicopters and PTDI dates back to 1976. Over the years, PTDI has become a key supplier of helicopter components and assemblies for Airbus Helicopters, including the production of the NBO-105 helicopter and the rear fuselage and main airframe of the Airbus H225. The full production of Airbus H225 in Indonesia was established by 2011.
Moreover, in 2017, the industrial cooperation between Airbus Helicopters and PTDI expanded to include support and services for the Indonesian military fleet of helicopters. In 2021, they further deepened their collaboration to explore the development of aerostructure production for Airbus Helicopters' platform and enhancing local maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities.
The latest version of the Airbus H145 features an innovative five-bladed rotor, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150 kg. Airbus will deliver the helicopters to PTDI for reassembly, mission equipment, and customisation work before they are delivered to the Indonesian Air Force.
The H145 family is used for military personnel training by armed forces around the world, including the US Army, the UK Armed Forces, and soon Germany. This growing presence of the H145 in military operations worldwide underscores Airbus Helicopters' extensive international collaboration and trust in this model.
This order is part of the growing presence of the H145 family in military operations worldwide. The H145M, the militarized variant of the H145, is widely used and ordered by various countries, demonstrating Airbus Helicopters' commitment to providing reliable and efficient helicopters for military operations.
In conclusion, the Indonesian Air Force's recent order of H145 helicopters reflects ongoing modernization efforts involving Airbus Helicopters. The history of cooperation between Airbus Helicopters and PT Dirgantara Indonesia forms a foundational part of Indonesia's capability development in aerospace and helicopter operations, underpinning this procurement and broader Indonesian aviation industry context.
The Indonesian Air Force's partnership with Airbus and PT Dirgantara Indonesia for the acquisition of H145 helicopters is anticipated to stimulate growth in the national aerospace industry. The H145's integration into the Indonesian Air Force's training fleet and potential use in light search-and-rescue missions will be bolstered by its reliability and advanced features such as the innovative five-bladed rotor.
