Indonesia moves toward the acquisition of 24 Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk helicopters

The Republic of Indonesia and Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin agreed on industrial offsets in anticipation of the future acquisition of 24 S-70M Black Hawk helicopters.

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Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto’s trip to the US resulted in the signing of two important documents for the modernization of the Indonesian Armed Forces.

Menteri Pertahanan RI Prabowo Subianto @prabowo, menyaksikan penandatanganan perjanjian industri pertahanan antara Indonesia dan Amerika Serikat, terkait pengadaan 24 unit helikopter Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk tipe GFA, untuk memperkuat armada helikopter TNI, Rabu (23/8). pic.twitter.com/ontK1BdPRl

— Kemhan RI (@Kemhan_RI) August 23, 2023

The first was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boeing for the purchase of 24 F-15EX heavy combat aircraft. If the deal goes through, Indonesia would become the first export customer for the latest variant of the legendary Eagle.

And the second MoU signed at Lockheed Martin’s Washington facility between PTDI President Director Gita Amperiawan and Vice President of Global Business Development Sikorsky, Lockheed Martin, Jeff White, secures Indonesian industrial participation regarding the future purchase of 24 S-70M Black Hawk helicopters. The signing of the memorandum took place under the watchful eye of Mr. Prabowo Subianto.

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Defense Minister Prabowo hopes that this collaboration can enhance the Indonesian Army’s airborne capabilities, while strengthening the national defense industry base. Specifically, the agreement signed with Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky will enable the state-owned aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia [PTDI] to produce parts for Black Hawks ordered by Indonesia.

«This agreement demonstrates our mutual interest with PTDI to provide S-70M Black Hawk helicopters to serve Indonesia’s security needs,» said Jeff White, vice president of Global Business Development at Sikorsky. “The Black Hawk is designed and built to the toughest military standards, and it can quickly and reliably deliver personnel and supplies to geographically-dispersed populations across a large archipelagic area such as Indonesia.”

The S-70M Black Hawk aircraft for the international market are built at Lockheed Martin’s PZL Mielec (Poland) facility under the designation S-70i. With the signing of this agreement, PTDI will be able to produce many of the Indonesian S-70M parts that will then be assembled in Poland, as well as facilitate the maintenance, modification and upgrade of the aircraft locally.

In addition, as stated by Gita Amperiawan, president director of PTDI, the MoU leaves the door open for future agreements that provide «the opportunity to become an official supplier to Sikorsky, PTDI will also be able to expand its aerostructures business.»