Jakarta – The recent arrival of a new presidential chopper at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta has raised questions over who had authorized the purchase of the $55 million medium-lift helicopter after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo earlier rejected such a plan.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu announced that Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto will lead an investigation into the "mysterious" procurement of the AgustaWestland AW-101 helicopter.

"I have delegated [the investigation] to the Air Force chief of staff. Wait for him to make a move," Ryamizard said at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday (07/02).

"The helicopter was once ordered for the president, but he canceled the order, saying that it was too expensive. We canceled [the order]. PTDI can make a helicopter like this, so why not have them do it? That was what the president wanted," Ryamizard said, referring to state-owned aircraft manufacturer Dirgantara Indonesia.

Calling on journalists and the public not to blow the issue out of proportion, the minister said he already discussed the defense budget with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Defense and the Indonesian Military (TNI), and that it appears to be in order. "There is no problem there," he said.

The Indonesian Air Force ordered three AW-101 helicopters in November 2015 for use by the president, vice president and senior ministers, but Jokowi axed the deal the following month because he believed it was too expensive.

However, the Air Force recently insisted on buying the same type of helicopter, saying that it was for military use and search and rescue missions.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/air-force-chief-to-investigate-mysterious-procurement-of-55m-chopper/