Indonesian Army orders nine Bell 412EPI helicopters

The Indonesian Army and state-owned aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) have signed an agreement for the delivery of Bell 412EPI assault helicopters.

Under the purchase agreement, PTDI will receive nine units of the 412EPI helicopters from Bell. The Indonesian company will then carry out customisation work on the aircraft prior to handing them over to the Indonesian Army.

The units will be delivered to the service along with weapons and ammunition, spare parts, technical publications and training.

The 412EPI helicopter is part of the Bell-412 series helicopter. PTDI and Bell Helicopter Textron Canada have an industrial cooperation agreement in place that was expanded in 2016.

Under the extended industrial and commercial agreement, the two companies have agreed to expand their support and services to Bell helicopter operators in Indonesia.

Bell has been present in Indonesia for more than 50 years. It currently has a company authorised service facility, a certified maintenance facility and dedicated customer service engineers in Jakarta.

To date, an estimated 110 Bell aircraft are currently in operation.

Last week, the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and PTDI entered an agreement for the delivery of eight additional H225M multirole helicopters.

PTDI director Elfien Guntoro said: “With the signing of the contract of the Indonesian Air Force heavy transport helicopter and its support and the Indonesian Army’s assault helicopter, it can support the progress of the domestic defence industry and is PTDI’s commitment to fulfil the basic tasks and functions of the airforce and army.”