KL to assemble RI CN-235 aircraft

KL to assemble RI CN-235 aircraft

MALAYSIA: A Malaysian aeronautical company signed on Monday an agreement with an Indonesian aircraft manufacturer to assemble and market its multi-role CN-235 plane here.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by officials of PT Dirgantara of Indonesia and Grouptech of Malaysia at a ceremony, witnessed by visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Details of the agreement were not immediately revealed and it was not clear when Grouptech Sdn. Bhd. would start assembling the CN-235 turboprop planes, which are primarily used by militaries for emergency evacuation and as a maritime patrol craft.

Under the MOU, both parties will jointly manufacture and market CN-235 aircraft regionally as well as to Islamic countries and developing countries, said a statement by Grouptech.

Dirgantara's plant is located in Bandung, Indonesia.

The CN-235 was developed in the early 1980s by Construcciones Aeronauticas S.A, or CASA, now known as EADS CASA, and Indonesia's IPTN, which is now known as Dirgantara. --AP