Indonesia’s state-owned airframer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has delivered a CN235-100M aircraft (tail number A-2305) to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) following the completion of a restoration programme.
The aircraft was handed over to the TNI-AU during a ceremony held on 9 January at PTDI 's Aircraft Services (ACS) Hangar in Bandung. The TNI-AU will return the aircraft to operational service, providing a much-needed boost to its transport aircraft fleet.
“We are grateful that the restoration programme of the CN235-100M A-2305 aircraft has been successfully completed and is now ready to strengthen the operational readiness of the TNI-AU. Considering that the readiness level of the 27th Air Squadron remains limited, the completion of this restoration is expected to reinforce the Transport Group, particularly in support of operations and exercises in the Papua region,” said Air Marshal Ir. Suryanto, Commander of the Air Force Materiel Maintenance Command.
The aircraft earlier operated by the TNI AU’s 27 Squadron underwent a complete restoration and Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU). A PTDI official told Future Warfare, that the A-2305 had been grounded and non-operational for approximately seven years when it arrived at PTDI, having last flown in 2015. The restoration effort took 18 months, and the aircraft is now expected to remain in service for another 10-15 years. The aircraft was produced and delivered by PTDI in 1994.
As part of PTDI’s CN235-100M Restoration Programme, the previously unserviceable aircraft underwent a full restoration process, including basic inspection (3C-check), life-extension of the aircraft structure, avionics system upgrades, rewiring, exterior repainting and interior refurbishment. The aircraft’s avionics and electrical systems were modernised with the installation of a glass cockpit and a new Flight Management System (FMS). The work was carried out entirely at PTDI’s Bandung facility.
In addition to its routine taskings, 27 Squadron will deploy the newly restored CN235-100M in support of the Indonesian Army, in addition to supporting humanitarian aid and disaster response missions.
PTDI has produced approximately 70 CN-235 aircraft, with 21 believed to be of the -100 variant. The current version in production at PTDI is the CN235-220. The Indonesian airframer also entered into an agreement with Turkiye’s Havelsan in February last year to jointly develop an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) variant of the CN-235.
IPTN (now PTDI) and CASA (now Airbus Defence & Space) had established a new joint-venture company, Aircraft Technology (Airtech) in October 1979 to design the CN235. The aircraft was conceived as a multi-purpose aircraft with Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability with the ability to operate from rugged airstrips with runways as small as 800 m.
CASA produced the first prototype Elena which made its maiden flight in November 1983. IPTN produced the second prototype Tetuko which first flew in December 1983. Series production of the CN-235-10 and 1 CN-235-100 variants commenced in 1986.
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