Navy to buy choppers from Russia

Navy to buy choppers from Russia

SURABAYA: The Navy will purchase 10 MI-2 and MI-17 helicopters
from Russia, four nomad patrol planes from Australia, a training
plane from France and a Casa plane from state-owned aircraft
manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI), to strengthen the
force, says Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Kent Sondakh.

"Purchase of the Russian helicopters will be concluded by
December at the latest while that of planes from France,
Australia and PT DI will be completed in the near future,"
Sondakh said after the commemoration of the 46th anniversary of
the Navy's air fleet at Juanda airport in the city on Monday.

He said the planes were expected to strengthen the Navy's
maritime patrol unit.

He declined to explain where the Navy had obtained the funds
to purchase the new planes and helicopters.

The government is considering the purchase of weapons from
Russia and China in the wake of the U.S.' embargo on Indonesia
following alleged human rights abuses in East Timor. -- Antara