RI considers buying Chinook choppers

JAKARTA (Antara): Indonesia is considering the purchase of Chinook helicopters from U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing to support humanitarian and other nonmilitary activities in the country, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said Thursday.

He said the government was considering a deal because Chinooks were an effective means of transportation for emergency situations.

"We will study the (Boeing) offer ... such helicopters are proven effective for emergency services, like the tsunami in Aceh," Juwono said after meeting with Boeing vice president Stanley Roth in Jakarta on Thursday.

The minister also said Chinooks were effective military transports because they could carry large numbers of troops, medicine as well as small military vehicles. In the future, he added, Chinooks may also be used to modernize the country's defense facilities, with particular attention to be given to the Air Force and Navy in the next five to 10 years.

The ministry's Director General for Planning Affairs, Yuwendi, said the U.S. company had made an offer to the government days after the tsunami hit Aceh and North Sumatra on Dec. 26, 2004.

"They offered the choppers to support humanitarian operations for tsunami victims. But it was impossible to make a quick response in such a situation. Now, we will reassess the offer," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Chinooks are used primarily for trooping and for load carrying and can carry up to 54 troops or 10 tonnes of freight. The cabin is enough to accommodate two Land Rovers. Secondary roles includesearch and rescue and casualty evacuation. The crew consists of either two pilots, or a pilot and navigator, and two air loadmasters. (**)