REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesian Army proposed the purchase of helicopters to strengthen its capability, Indonesian Minister of Defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro said. 

"Black Hawk is within our budget range while Apache is beyond it," Yusgiantoro said on Friday, expecting that the purchase could be conducted this year.

Ministry of Finance and National Development Planning Board (BPPN) approved 200 million USD or 1.9 trillion IDR for defense budget. Meanwhile, the price of a unit of Apache is 45 million USD, while Black Hawk costs 20 million USD per unit.

"Government still discuss it. We haven't proposed it to Commission I of the House of Representatives," he said.

Pentagon so far has permitted Indonesian Army to purchase Apache instead of Black Hawk. Thus, Yusgiantoro expects the purchase of Black Hawk will run according to plan. 

The Chief of Defense Facilities Agency, Ediwan Prabowo, explained that based on the discussion with representatives from Pentagon, the available budget could only purchase eight Apache. But, the 20 million USD is enough to buy 20 Black Hawk.

"Seeing the urgency to modernize our weaponry, Ministry of Defense will ask for more budget up to 400 million USD," he said.

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