"The funding agreement was signed in Singapore between PT NBA and RT ComInvestment Co. Ltd. on Wednesday," Sonny Saleh Ibrahim, the president director`s assistant for quality management system and communications development of PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), said here on Friday.
He said on the same day PTDI signed a letter of intent for the order of 20 N219 aircraft and an option for additional 10 aircraft.
The signing was done on the sidelines of the Airshow in Singapore witnessed by three ministers, namely Industry Minister MS Hidayat, State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan and Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan.
PTDI in the signing was represented by its president director Budi Santoso, the director of technology and development and administrative affairs Dita Donny Jafri, the director of aerostructure Andi Alisyahbana, the director of aircraft services Budi Wuraskito and the director of aircraft integration and finance, Budiman Saleh.
"The trust given to PTDI to manufacture the N219 aircraft shows that we are really important part of air development in the country," Sonny Ibrahim, the company`s former head of rocket program, said.
The value of the contract was US$120 million. The two companies had also agreed to discuss and negotiate technical things and business aspects.
N219 is a feeder plane powered by two turboprop engines capable of carrying 19 passengers and a payload of 3,000 kilograms with a cruising speed of 213 knots.
The aircraft is now still under the process of development with a certification target in the first quarter of 2014.
The plane is designed to be able to take off and land in a short runway of 600 meter long.
On the day of the signing of the N219 contract PTDI also signed a contract with Military Airbus for the manufacturing of nine military transport aircraft C295. PTDI will contribute with a number of important components including fuselage and tail.
The C295 aircraft which is to be used by the Air Force will be delivered between 2012-2014. The aircraft will later be named CN-295.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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