PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), operating under the umbrella of the Defend ID state-owned holding, has taken a significant step towards bolstering Indonesia’s defense capabilities. A momentous occasion unfolded as Gita Amperiawan, the President Director of PTDI, and Jeff White, the Vice President of Global Business Development at Sikorsky, convened to formalize their partnership. The occasion marked the signing of a consequential Head of Agreement (HOA), solidifying their collaboration on the procurement of Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk helicopters for the Indonesian Armed Forces.
Witnessing this historic signing were esteemed figures including Prabowo Subianto, the Minister of Defense for the Republic of Indonesia, and Rosan Roeslani, the Deputy Minister of BUMN RI. The distinguished event took place within the premises of Lockheed Martin’s facility in the vibrant city of Washington, DC. This partnership bears testament to PTDI’s unwavering commitment to providing unwavering support to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense in the realm of helicopter procurement. An integral facet of this collaboration involves the establishment of a strategic alliance between PTDI and Sikorsky.
This alliance serves a dual purpose: to cultivate a thriving national industry and to cater to the precise requisites of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. As an outcome of this partnership, PTDI stands to gain an enriched repertoire of capabilities encompassing integration, customization, system modification, and enhancement. This collective effort will culminate in the augmentation of PTDI’s prowess in achieving helicopter completion. Moreover, this collaboration bestows upon PTDI the capability to conduct Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations for the Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk helicopter, inclusive of its intricate systems and engines.
On 25 February 2013, the Indonesian Army announced its interest in buying UH-60 Black Hawks to modernize its weaponry. The Indonesian Army wants them for combating terrorism, transnational crime, and insurgency to secure the archipelago. Indonesian Aerospace signed a contract with Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky for the potential sales, production, and delivery of Black Hawk helicopters in 2022. Lockheed Martin is expected to support PTDI in modernization of Indonesian Armed Force equipment, develop PTDI engineering capability. And also ensure readiness of PTDI industrial capability to support future projects of the Government of Indonesia.
