Under Secretary for Finance and Material, Department of National Defense of the Philippines (General Retirement) Raymundo Elefante, said that his country is currently interested in purchasing Indonesian defense products to modernize the Philippines’ weapons and combat equipment.
Raymundo said that two NC212i airplanes he had inspected at PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) is part of the Philippines’ airplane procurement program. The planes will be delivered to the Philippines’ early next year. “Aircraft produced by PTDI will be used in various conditions such as natural disaster, medical evacuation, and other conditions,” Raymundo said while inspecting the two airplanes at PTDI’s aircraft factory complex in Bandung, November 4, 2016.
Raymundo said that his country decided to choose NC212i because of its competitive prices. In addition, the Philippines also currently wait for its ship order from PT PAL.
Raymundo however, did not provide detailed information on the ship orders. PT PAL had delivered one of the Philippines’ ship order and another one will be finished next year.
Budiman Saleh, Director of Commerce and Restructuring of PT Dirgantara Indonesia said that the two NC212i plane was the first airplane purchase by the Philippines in the last 20 years. “We have to respect [the Philippines] and its modernization program. This is the first purchase by the country after 20 years,” Budiman said.