Indonesian Navy orders A-Viator utility, surveillance aircraft

The Indonesian Navy's order of four Vulcanair AP.68TP-600 aircraft will enable the service to enhance its air operations and possibly replace older platforms. (Vulcanair)

The Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) is acquiring four Vulcanair AP.68TP-600 A-Viator light utility and multisensor surveillance twin-engine aircraft as part of the service's modernisation efforts.

The navy operates a modest air arm, with twin- and single-engine fixed-wing maritime patrol and training platforms as well as helicopters and a small number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). According to Vulcanair, the TNI-AL signed a contract in December 2023 for four AP.68TP-600 platforms.

The TNI-AL is procuring the “A-Viator turboprop aircraft for the purpose of modernising the fleet [which is] composed of old and costly large twin-engine turboprop and obsolete single engine piston aircraft”, the Italy-based company said.

According to the company, the contract covers the “supply of four initial aircraft with a series of ancillary services such as pilot and maintenance training, and a dedicated customised simulator”.

“The contract was activated on 29 January 2026” after “proper financing” was set up, Vulcanair said, adding that construction of the aircraft has now commenced at its facilities in Casoria (Naples), Italy. The Ministry of Defense's (MoD's) selection of the AP.68TP-600 followed a 2022 market survey, the company added.

Vulcanair and the MoD have not commented on the value of the contract.

The AP.68TP-600 is a high-wing, stretched version of the P.68C, and is powered by twin Rolls-Royce M250-B17C turboprops, each flat rated at 245 kW (328 shp) at 2,030 rpm. The engines drive HC-B3TF-7A/T10173T-21R three-blade, constant speed, fully feathering, reversible pitch propellers, according to Vulcanair.