The Indonesian Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of its first CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) from PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), on schedule and on budget.
In 2009, the company was awarded a contract by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence to manufacture and deliver a total of three CN-235 aircraft for use by the Indonesian Navy.
Antaranews.com cited PTDI president director Budi Santoso as saying that the CN235 MPA is a medium class aircraft, equipped with a patrolling facility and the ability to control a wide sea territory.
Equipped with Seaspray 4000 from BAE Systems, the AN/APS-134 from Raytheon or the Ocean Master 100 from Thales, the CN-235 MPA can be integrated with two mk46 torpedoes or Exocet M-39 air-launch anti-ship missiles.
Powered by two General Electric CT&-9C3 turboprop engines and propellers that are of glass fibre construction with a metal spar and urethane foam core, the aircraft features conventional semi-monocoque design and is of mainly aluminium alloy construction.
Additional features of the aircraft include Trimble TNL7900 Omega global positioning system and a Northrop Grumman-built LN92 ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system.
Aircraft Technology (AirTech), a joint venture between EADS CASA and Dirgantara was formed to develop the CN-235 aircraft in two variants for civil and military missions.
PTDI will deliver the remaining two aircraft to the Indonesian Navy in December this year and February 2014 respectively.
The Dirgantara-manufactured maritime patrol variant, the CN-235MPA, is currently operational with Indonesia, Brunei and UAE, while the other variant, the CN-235MP Persuader, developed in Spain by EADS CASA, is in service with Spain, Ireland and Turkey.
Image: A CN-235 aircraft during its flight. Photo: file image.
