Habibie welcomes UAE purchase of CN-235 planes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vice President B.J. Habibie welcomed yesterday
\nthe United Arab Emirates (UAE) decision to purchase four CN-235
\naircraft from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Habibie told visiting UAE Navy Commander Brig. Gen. Suhail MK
\nShahen Al-Marar that he was very pleased with the trust given to
\nstate aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN.<\/p>\n
"The Vice President expressed his deep gratitude to our
\nbrothers from the UAE for their confidence in us," IPTN president
\nHari Laksono said after accompanying the Navy commander at a
\nmeeting with Habibie at Merdeka Selatan Palace.<\/p>\n
Habibie was IPTN president before his election to the vice
\npresidency in March. His son, Ilham Habibie, is also an executive
\nof the company.<\/p>\n
Hari said the four aircraft, worth US$150 million, would be
\ndelivered in three years.<\/p>\n
"We must make some adjustments to match their system because
\nthese planes will be used for marine patrols," said Hari.<\/p>\n
IPTN beat several other international manufacturers, including
\nCanada's Bombardier, Spain's CASA and the Netherlands' Fokker for
\nthe tender, Hari noted.<\/p>\n
Other countries like Australia, Venezuela and the Philippines
\nhave also expressed an interest in buying Indonesian aircraft.<\/p>\n
IPTN announced last month that IPTN's CN-235 aircraft have
\nbeen used by several countries, including Turkey, South Korea,
\nFrance, UAE and Brunei Darussalam. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/habibie-welcomes-uae-purchase-of-cn-235-planes-1447893297",
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