JAKARTA, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Indonesian military representatives have visited a Boeing Co. facility in Arizona to view AH-64E Apaches Indonesia plans to purchase, a Boeing executive said.
Indonesia has expressed interest in the attack helicopters for more than a year, and approval from Congress has now been given to acquire the aircraft from the U.S, Army under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.
"The Apache is expected to be a key part of Indonesia's continuing efforts to improve its strategic defense capabilities," Dave Brostrom, a Boeing business development manager, was quoted as saying in a Jakarta Globe newspaper report.
Brostrom said during the visit the Indonesians also expressed interest in the CH-47F Chinook helicopter.
No contract or contractual time frame for the manufacture and delivery of Apache helicopters to Indonesia has been announced.
Indonesia's approval to procure the AH-64E was initially clouded by a letter of opposition to Congress from two human rights groups -- The East Timor Action Network and West Papua Advocacy Team -- which accused the country of a long record of violating human rights and disregard of civilian casualties during its war against rebels in East Timor, which was then part of Indonesia.
