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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Indonesia
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Indonesia could purchase small batch of Airbus A400M airlifters
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According to Reuters, Indonesia could purchase a small batch of A400M military airlifters manufactured by the defense giant Airbus Defence and Space. "I have a plan to buy A400s from Europe ... but just a small number. There is no need to buy many," the country's Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said without giving more details.
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 RMAF's first A400M aircraft performing its first flight on Jan. 30 2015(Credit: Airbus Defence and Space) |
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If Indonesia purchases the A400M, the country would be the second non-european customer after Malaysia bought four aircraft in december 2005. Kuala-Lumpur alreday took delivery of the first two airlifters.
The A400M Atlas is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed by Airbus as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities to replace older transport aircraft, such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. It has an operational range of 4,500 km with a 30-tonne payload. Ryacudu also said the Indonesian government agreed to buy eight Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets this year, but added the price was still being negotiated. Indonesia had initially planned to buy around a dozen of the Russian jets to replace its ageing Northrop F-5 fighters, and supplement a fleet of 16 Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighters that form the backbone of its air force. |
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