ID :
15131
Wed, 08/06/2008 - 16:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/15131
The shortlink copeid
SIX RUSSIAN-MADE HELICOPTERS ARRIVE IN INDONESIA
Surabaya, Indonesia, Aug. 6 (ANTARA) - Six Mi-17-V helicopters, ordered by Indonesia from Russia in 2003, arrived at the Indonesian Navy's airbase in Surabaya, East Java, on Wednesday.
The Indonesian Defense Ministry's director general for defense facilities Rear Marshal Eris Heriyanto, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Alexander Ivanov, and a number of Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) officials were present at the air base when the brand-new helicopters arrived.
After the helicopters had landed, Heriyanto and a representative of the Russian company that had made them, Rosoboronexport, signed notes on the aircraft's delivery.
Fully armed, the six helicopters are to be used by the Army's Aviation Center (Penerbad).
The helicopters' procurement process was marred by a corruption scandal which caused the state to lose around US$3.24 million.
However, the government went ahead with the purchase worth around US$21.6 million as the corruption case was being settled in court.
Russian Ambassador Ivanov said the helicopters were reliable and had been used in many countries.
"These helicopters can be used not only for military purposes but also for non-military assignments such as disaster mitigation operations," he said.
The envoy also said the arrival of the helicopters also marked the sound bilateral relations existing between Indonesia and Russia, especially in the military field.
The Indonesian Defense Ministry's director general for defense facilities Rear Marshal Eris Heriyanto, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Alexander Ivanov, and a number of Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) officials were present at the air base when the brand-new helicopters arrived.
After the helicopters had landed, Heriyanto and a representative of the Russian company that had made them, Rosoboronexport, signed notes on the aircraft's delivery.
Fully armed, the six helicopters are to be used by the Army's Aviation Center (Penerbad).
The helicopters' procurement process was marred by a corruption scandal which caused the state to lose around US$3.24 million.
However, the government went ahead with the purchase worth around US$21.6 million as the corruption case was being settled in court.
Russian Ambassador Ivanov said the helicopters were reliable and had been used in many countries.
"These helicopters can be used not only for military purposes but also for non-military assignments such as disaster mitigation operations," he said.
The envoy also said the arrival of the helicopters also marked the sound bilateral relations existing between Indonesia and Russia, especially in the military field.
