Malaysia's Grouptech has emerged as a potential saviour for Indonesian Aerospace's (IAe) troubled CN-235 transport project, with the companies negotiating a deal to establish a joint venture to manage and fund the programme.
Confirming that it is seeking an equity stake in the CN-235 manufacturing effort, Grouptech says: "They [IAe] don't have funds to manufacture the aircraft. We will be injecting working funds [into the new joint venture]."
State-owned IAe says discussions are under way, but adds: "We need to go through long and bureaucratic corridors before we can conclude a deal."
If finalised, the joint venture agreement will allow IAe to continue building CN-235s at its Bandung site in Indonesia, before flying them to Grouptech's Kuala Lumpur facility for interior outfitting and other customisation work.
The pact is the subject of a memorandum of understanding signed by the companies in Malaysia in mid-February.
IAe says the involvement of maintenance, repair and overhaul company Grouptech could help it to secure a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) order for three or four maritime patrol aircraft to provide surveillance and search and rescue services in the Straits of Malacca.
A request for proposals has yet to be released, but IAe says the MMEA could lease CN-235s from Grouptech and have heavy maintenance checks conducted in Malaysia.
IAe also hopes the Malaysian air force will expand its CN-235 fleet with a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft buy from next year.
LEITHEN FRANCIS / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
