Habibie welcomes UAE purchase of CN-235 planes

Habibie welcomes UAE purchase of CN-235 planes

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President B.J. Habibie welcomed yesterday
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) decision to purchase four CN-235
aircraft from Indonesia.

Habibie told visiting UAE Navy Commander Brig. Gen. Suhail MK
Shahen Al-Marar that he was very pleased with the trust given to
state aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN.

"The Vice President expressed his deep gratitude to our
brothers from the UAE for their confidence in us," IPTN president
Hari Laksono said after accompanying the Navy commander at a
meeting with Habibie at Merdeka Selatan Palace.

Habibie was IPTN president before his election to the vice
presidency in March. His son, Ilham Habibie, is also an executive
of the company.

Hari said the four aircraft, worth US$150 million, would be
delivered in three years.

"We must make some adjustments to match their system because
these planes will be used for marine patrols," said Hari.

IPTN beat several other international manufacturers, including
Canada's Bombardier, Spain's CASA and the Netherlands' Fokker for
the tender, Hari noted.

Other countries like Australia, Venezuela and the Philippines
have also expressed an interest in buying Indonesian aircraft.

IPTN announced last month that IPTN's CN-235 aircraft have
been used by several countries, including Turkey, South Korea,
France, UAE and Brunei Darussalam. (prb)