🇮🇩 Indonesia orders 12 PC-24 and signs LOI for PC-21 trainers

 

The Indonesian Air Force has ordered 12 Pilatus PC-24 aircraft to support transport pilot training, air transport and liaison missions. The contract was signed with PT E-System Solutions Indonesia and includes an option for additional aircraft, as well as ground support equipment, spare parts, training and technical assistance from Pilatus Aircraft.

The PC-24 was selected for its operational flexibility. It is certified for single-pilot operations, features a cargo door and can operate from short and unpaved runways. These characteristics make it suitable for a wide range of missions, including IFR training, transport and liaison duties, while improving access across Indonesia’s dispersed geography.

In parallel, a letter of intent has been signed for the acquisition of 24 Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainers. The package would include ground-based training systems, spare parts, support equipment and technical assistance, pointing to a broader expansion of the training system.

The PC-24 acquisition is confirmed, while the PC-21 programme remains subject to further negotiations. Together, they indicate a structured approach to training and transport, aligned with the operational demands of a country composed of thousands of islands.

Spanish Navy plans to replace its aging fleet of Cessna VIP transport planes

Armada Española (Spanish Navy) is actively working on replacing its fleet of Cessna aircraft used by the Fourth Squadron of the Aircraft Flotilla. These Cessna planes, specifically three C-550 Citation II and one C-650 Citation, have been in service for a span of 30 to 40 years and are scheduled for replacement. The Navy plans to kickstart a program aimed at substituting these aircraft, primarily utilized for logistical transport missions and VIP personnel transfers.

An essential component of the Spanish Navy's Fourth Squadron within its Aircraft Flotilla, these Cessna planes play a crucial role by offering urgent logistical support to units deployed in operational zones, in addition to facilitating the transport of VIP individuals. Moreover, they actively contribute to training exercises such as simulated ship-attack flights, radar targeting direction calibration, and the transportation of highly classified materials.

According to undisclosed sources within the Navy, the preferred replacement aircraft option appears to be the PC-24 manufactured by the Swiss company Pilatus, primarily for its remarkable versatility. This aircraft boasts the capability to swiftly transform into a cargo plane, accommodate single-pilot operation, and execute takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways.