At the prestigious Bali International Airshow 2024, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) emphasized its various collaborations with global partners for existing aircraft products, CN235-220 and NC212i, as well as its role in creating breakthroughs and revolutions in Indonesia's aerospace technology through the development of future modes of transportation based on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). This confirms PTDI's commitment in encouraging innovation and fulfilling market needs for high-quality aviation solutions.

CN235-220 Aircraft Development MPA/ASW Configuration

As a result of the meeting between the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo and the Philippine Minister of Defense, Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro Jr. in January 2024, that there is an opportunity in the future for PTDI in particular, and for Indonesia in general to achieve another important milestone in the Philippines, namely the potential procurement of CN235-220 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Anti-Submarine Warfare (MPA/ASW) from PTDI for the Philippine Navy.

PTDI collaborates with its strategic partners to answer the needs of MPA/ASW aircraft in the Philippines, in this case with SCYTALYS, a leading software development and system integration company with offices in Greece, the United States and Singapore.

"SCYTALYS is very enthusiastic to be able to increase the role of the CN235 aircraft as a versatile and cost-efficient solution, meeting the growing need for multi-role surveillance, maritime patrol, and search and rescue (SAR) platforms. Our MIMS (Mission Information & Management System) Airborne System is an advanced mission system, modular and can be combined with CN235 from PTDI, providing solutions for effective MPA/ASW missions," said Dimitris Karantzavelos, President of SCYTALYS.

PTDI and SCYTALYS will work closely together, not only to meet the needs of the Philippines but also to serve the demand of MPA/ASW from other countries. "We maximize our efforts to make CN235 aircraft products more competitive, so that it can encourage the increase of new export contracts," explained Gita Amperiawan, President Director of PTDI.

NC212i Aircraft Market Progress And Its Development

As the only manufacturer of NC212i aircraft in the world, PTDI always ensures quality improvement and customer/user satisfaction with the products produced. In 2023, PTDI and DND Philippines signed a new contract for the procurement of 6 (six) NC212i aircraft units and their spare parts. This procurement is a continuation of the previous procurement of 2 (two) units in 2014, which indicates that PTDI products in terms of quality can be accepted by customers.

To support the fulfillment of the new contract from DND Philippines, in the momentum of the first day of the Bali International Airshow 2024 (18/09) PTDI and Honeywell agreed to purchase 6 (six) sets of turboprop engines type TPE331 to support the NC212i aircraft produced by PTDI which will then be operated by the Philippine Air Force. Honeywell's presence in providing TPE331 type turboprop engine since 2007 pushes the NC212i aircraft to have the ability to take off faster, as well as being efficient when exploring, making the NC212i aircraft competitive in the market and can create satisfaction for customers, as evidenced by repeat orders made by DND Philippine which has become PTDI loyal customers to the NC212i aircraft.

Currently, PTDI has also set a new chapter in the production of the NC212i aircraft in the future with a new propeller made by MT Propeller, Germany, namely MTV-27 which has been certified by EASA. The use of MTV-27 on the NC212i has been tested to be compatible with the installed engine, namely Honeywell TPE331, which can then produce low noise and vibration in aircraft operations. The development of the NC212i aircraft with MT Propeller has started since August 2023, namely the 123rd PTDI production NC212i aircraft for customers of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense/TNI AU.

PTDI As A New Generation Aerospace Product Development Center

Awareness of the importance of the future mode of transportation of e-VTOL aircraft based on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) with the latest technology encourages PTDI to take its role as a center for the development of aerospace products that are open and accessible to start-up companies that take the initiative to develop new generation of aerospace products. This is based on the position of PTDI which is the only aircraft manufacturer/OEM in Indonesia that already has complete resources in the aerospace industry, which can support the realization of development, manufacturing, and commercialization of AAM aircraft.

On the occasion of the second day of the Bali International Airshow (19/09), the President Director of PTDI, Gita Amperiawan witnessed the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between PT Vela Prima Nusantara (Vela) - one of PTDI's partners in the development of AAM aircraft, with PT Sayap Garuda Indah (SGI Air Bali) for the collaboration in the development of Vela Alpha products until the success of obtaining certification by the relevant aviation authorities, in this case the Directorate of Aviation & Aircraft Operation (DKPPU) of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation, which will then continue the agreement until the purchase of Vela Alpha units that will be operated to support the tourism sector, as well as transfer flights. After that, Vela and PTDI also agreed on a Framework Agreement for cooperation in engineering, development and production of Vela Alpha aircraft.

Vela Alpha is a Lift & Cruise Aircraft with a capacity of 4 passengers for VIP transport and a capacity of 6 passengers for economy transport. "Here Vela brings a sub-scale aircraft with a scale of 1:3 to be exhibited at the Bali International Airshow 2024. Next, Vela will build a 1:1 scale demonstration technology aircraft with the target of completing the construction by the end of 2025. The two aircraft are Vela's steps before entering the aircraft prototype certification stage," said Rejeki Simanjorang, Vela Technology Director.

In addition to its collaboration with Vela, PTDI also collaborates with other start-ups, namely PT Intercrus Aero Indonesia (Intercrus) to jointly develop, certify, manufacture and commercialize an AAM-based multicopter product called Intercrus Sola with a capacity of 3 passengers to meet the needs of mobility transportation. On this occasion (19/09), PTDI and Intercrus announced their cooperation which was marked by the signing of a Framework Agreement on the cooperation in preliminary design, feasibility study & full-scale prototype development of Intercrus Sola, as a follow-up to the previous MoU agreement regarding development cooperation, certification, manufacturing and commercialization of Intercrus Sola which has been signed in June 2024.

PTDI's cooperation with each start-up partner is a form of PTDI's commitment in realizing the vision of future air transportation that is more efficient and environmentally friendly. "This is an innovation product created by the young generation that we must support, and PTDI is willing to be a facilitator with Government agencies, academics and several related industries, to ensure that every aspect of the industrialization of AAM technology can be accepted and integrated effectively in the existing aviation ecosystem, continuing until commercialization and optimized its utilization by the Indonesian people," said Moh Arif Faisal, Director of Commerce, Technology & Development of PTDI.