Indonesia’s PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has ordered two Airbus Helicopters AS365 N3+ Dauphins to boost the country’s search and rescue capabilities.

Under the deal signed at the Paris air show, Airbus Helicopters will deliver the two helicopters within a year to PTDI, which will complete reassembly and fit the aircraft with hoists, electro-optical systems and other equipment for its specialist role.

“We are very familiar with the Dauphin platform and are confident that with the installation of dedicated SAR equipment, we will offer the right solution to the Indonesian Government for its SAR demands,” says PTDI President Director Budi Santoso.

Airbus Helicopters says that there are already five Dauphins in service in Singapore with the police and search and rescue agency Basarnas. Indonesia’s Navy ordered a further 11 of the anti-submarine Panther variant in 2014, which will be delivered via PTDI over the coming three years.

Government-owned PTDI is also known as Indonesian Aerospace, and provides assembly and support services for a number of Airbus Helicopters aircraft in Indonesia.

Source: Flight Daily News