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)