Half of the Apache helicopters that were bought would be placed in Natuna Islands.Semarang, C Java (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian army had started the pilot training to fly the Apache AH-64E, the combat helicopters that were bought from the United States, prior to their arrival in 2017.
"Apache is a sophisticated helicopter, so we have to train the pilots prior to their arrival in 2017," the Army Chief of Staff, General Budiman, said at the Ahmad Yani Armys Base Force in Semarang, Central Java, on Thursday.
Indonesia had bought eight Apache helicopters of the type AH-64E from the United States as part of the program to strengthen the nations primary weapons defense system.
Budiman said during the training, the United States will lend a few Apache helicopters to train the Indonesian pilots.
Half of the Apache helicopters that were bought would be placed in Natuna Islands, while the others will be stationed in Jakarta.
Indonesia also bought 114 units of Leopard Tank, 28 units of carrier helicopters, 37 units of Caesar Cannon, 13 units of MLRS Astros II Rocket and a few air defense missiles from Starstreak and Mistral.
"We expect more than half of those military purchases to arrive before October 2014," Budiman said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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