Indonesian Military Acquires Four Airbus H145 Helicopters from Manufacturer
In a significant move, the Indonesian Air Force has placed an order for four Airbus H145 helicopters. This order was announced during the Bali International Airshow and forms part of the Indonesian Air Force's training modernisation programme.
The H145 helicopters will be delivered by Airbus to PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) for reassembly and customisation at PTDI's facility in Bandung, Indonesia. This collaboration between Airbus and PTDI strengthens their long-standing partnership and showcases their commitment to the development of the national aerospace industry.
The H145 is a modern light utility helicopter with advanced capabilities. The specific Indonesian order includes multiple units that will be locally assembled by PTDI. This partnership signifies a strategic effort to build domestic aerospace capabilities while enhancing the Indonesian Air Force’s rotary-wing fleet with advanced Airbus technology.
The collaboration was further deepened in recent times to explore the development of aerostructure production for Airbus' helicopter platform. The latest version of Airbus' H145 helicopter features a five-bladed rotor, increasing its useful load by 150 kg. This simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design eases maintenance operations and improves serviceability and reliability.
The H145 family has more than 1,700 helicopters in service worldwide, with over 7.9 million flight hours. The H145 family is used for military personnel training by armed forces globally, including the US Army, UK Armed Forces, and soon Germany. The helicopters will be deployed for military training and light search-and-rescue missions.
Vincent Dubrule, Head of Asia-Pacific, Airbus Helicopters, expressed confidence in the H145's ability to enhance military pilot training and support search-and-rescue operations. Gita Amperiawan, President Director, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, expressed the company's commitment to providing innovative and reliable solutions for national operational needs.
This collaboration between Airbus and PTDI dates back to 1976, with PTDI becoming a key supplier of Airbus H225's rear fuselage and main airframe in 2008. In 2011, full production of H225 in Indonesia was in place. The partnership between Airbus and PTDI expanded in 2017 to include support and services for the Indonesian military fleet of helicopters.
In conclusion, the Indonesian Air Force’s H145 order is part of a wider framework of collaboration with Airbus Helicopters facilitated through PTDI, which serves as the local assembler and partner, contributing to Indonesia’s aerospace industry growth and modernization of its helicopter fleet. This partnership is expected to continue to evolve, positioning both entities for future joint ventures in military and civil aviation sectors.
The partnership between Airbus Helicopters and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) extends to the finance and technology sectors, as they collaborate on the development of aerostructure production for Airbus' helicopter platform. The H145 helicopters, delivered for reassembly and customisation at PTDI's facility, will be used not only for military training but also for light search-and-rescue missions, demonstrating the impact of this collaboration on the Indonesian Air Force's rotary-wing fleet and the domestic aerospace industry.
