CN 295 military aircraft promoted in ASEAN

BANGKOK, May 29 (TNA) - Indonesia's Defense Ministry and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) are demonstrating the capabilities of the CN 295 military transport aircraft in five member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Thailand, aimed to widen Indonesia's access to the regional defense market and to boost the status of Indonesia's defense industry. PTDI's Director of Commerce and Restructurisation Budiman Saleh told a press conference in Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon that the CN 295 military transport aircraft has been jointly developed by PTDI and Airbus Military. Saleh said Indonesia hopes that, apart from gaining wider access to the regional defense market, the CN 295 military transport aircraft can later expand to the larger Asian market in the near future. Saleh acknowledged Indonesia strongly believes if ASEAN member states use a common defense system and military aircraft, their cooperation will be further strengthened with reduced maintenance costs. The Indonesian Defense Ministry and PTDI are, meanwhile, on a touring campaign to the five ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. The CN 295 military transport aircraft landed at Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport on May 28 and will depart for Malaysia, its last destination, on May 30, to showcase the capabilities of the Indonesian-made military aircraft to potential customers in the region. (TNA)