"The government is planning to purchase one squadron of CN295 and the nine airplanes are expected to join the Air Force in the first semester of 2014," Purnomo said on the sidelines of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s visit to PT DI here on Wednesday.
Purnomo said the government had allocated funds amounting to US$325 million for the purchase of the planes to be used as transport aircraft by he Indonesian Air Force.
The purchase of the planes according to the minister was part of the country`s effort to revitalize the Indonesian military`s main weaponry system.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) of the purchase of the aircraft was signed by the defense ministry and PT DI.
Besides that, the Air Force would also add two squadrons of F-16 to its fleet in 2014 after the House of Representatives (DPR) approved 24 F-16s Block 25 from the United States. The Block 25 planes will be upgraded to the same level os those of Block 52.
(Uu.A014/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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