The Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) NAS 332C1+ Super Puma medium lift helicopter should be considered to fill in the requirement by both the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the Malaysian Army Aviation Force (Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat – PUTD) which require a replacement platform for their respective Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri helicopters retired more than a year ago.
The first of NAS 332C1+ has been successfully delivered to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) on January 2021 marking a new era for the locally assembled helicopter. Serving SkU 6 out of Atang Sendjaja AFB.
The C1+ variant Super Puma has been ordered by KEMENHAN in 2019. The fact that the helicopter is being completed in short period of time is indeed a testament to the IAe which has been producing the helicopter under license since early 1980’s.
The helicopter will be assigned for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, vertical mobility as well as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations.
Unlike ‘legacy’ Super Puma built by the IAe, the new C1+ variant is equipped with glass cockpit compatible to Night Vision Goggle (NVG). It also has Flight Management System (FMS) as well as Attitude Heading and Reference System (AHRS) and weather radar.
For SAR operations, the new Indonesian Super Puma is equipped with SAR Direction Finder which is able to locate the signal transmitted by Emergency Locating Tracker/Beacon (ELT/ELB).With maximum speed of 306 km/h, as a SAR platform, it is able to fly for 4 hours.
In vertical airlift role, the Super Puma is able to carry 16 troops excluding three crews (pilot, co-pilot and Air Quarter Master).
(MFH)