REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The procurement of AgustaWestland (AW-101) VVIP helicopter was in keeping with the correct procedures as laid down in the Ministry of Defence's policy and strategy plans, Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto noted. "The Air Force corresponded with the ministry regarding the procurement process till the contract (was signed). So, we have fulfilled all administrative requirements," he said at the Air Force Headquarters on Friday.
The Air Force really required AW-101, considering it lacked enough transport helicopters with search and rescue ability. It supposedly needed seven helicopters to do the job but is currently using only Colibri helicopters to carry out search and rescue duties. "These are not eligible (for the task). Therefore, the former Air Force chief of staff, (Marshall Agus Supriatna) considered it urgent to purchase this transport helicopter," Tjahjanto explained.
Initially, the Air Force's strategic plan was to procure six transport helicopters and four VVIP helicopters. This later led to the purchase of AW-101. However, due to certain issues affecting the decision-making process, the purchase of VVIP helicopters was stopped.
Tjahjanto asserted that the AW-101 helicopter was purchased through the Air Force's budget to meet the initial requirement of a VVIP plane for President Joko Widodo. "Earlier, the helicopter was ordered for the president, but he disagreed since it was too expensive. Hence, we cancelled the order," the former inspector general of the Defense Ministry noted.
The procurement of the AW-101 VVIP helicopter had sparked off a lot of rhetoric as both, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and Military chief General Gatot Nurmantyo, were unaware of the deal. The helicopter, which had arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, is reportedly worth U$55 million (Rp741 billion).
In November 2015, the Indonesian Air Force had expressed its willingness to procure three AW-101 helicopters for VVIP transport missions. However, the following month, President Widodo scrapped the deal on grounds of high costs. However, in a letter sent to the Ministry of Defense on July 29, 2016, the Air Force proposed to purchase an AW-101 helicopter, saying it was not for meant for the president's use but for military use and search and rescue missions.
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