JAKARTA: Indonesia’s aircraft industry is ready to take off again after collapsing as a result of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.
The company also continues developing new plane types, including the N-219, a 19-seat transport aircraft for multipurpose missions in remote areas, and is collaborating with Korea Aerospace Industries to develop IF-X/KF-X fighter aircraft for both countries’ air forces.Established in 1976, DI was known as Nusantara Aircraft Industry. It employed up to 16,000 staff and became a subcontractor to the world’s major aircraft industries, such as Boeing, Airbus, General Dynamics and Fokker.
Up to 155 R-80 planes have been ordered by local airlines, and its prototype is targeted for flight tests by 2022.Indonesia has signed agreements to export N-219 aircraft to China and Mexico. Meanwhile, Turkey is interested in selling them to Africa. It was only after renegotiation by the end of 2018 that both countries agreed to continue the project.
Business consulting firm Frost and Sullivan reports that, among Southeast Asian countries, the overall trade value of Indonesia’s aerospace products is still below Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Meanwhile, Thai Aviation Industries manufactures RTAF-6 trainer aircraft in very small numbers. And the Philippines’ Aviation Composite Technology produces only one Apache 1 trainer aircraft.Developing new aircraft projects is a key move to increase the growth of the country’s aircraft industry. But for these to succeed, it is important for the government to provide support.