NAS 332 Super Puma TNI AL: “Tracking” the Tracks of Helicopters Carrying Anti-Ship Missiles

The TNI AL's Super Puma Puspenerbal is indeed special, besides its nature as a transport helicopter, this production of PT Dirgantara Indonesia (formerly PT IPTN) also has the ability as a platform for launching the AM-39 Exocet anti-ship missile. Although the project to launch the Exocet was eventually canceled, the TNI AL's Super Puma appears different with the provision of search radar and maritime surveillance radar under its nose.

The completeness of two radars on the TNI AL Super Puma was at the forefront in adopting PT IPTN's defense equipment at that time. The Omega radar is embedded in the nose, embedded in the black nose. While the surveillance radar uses the Bendix 1500B type, this type of radar is capable of 'sweeping' the sea surface, including detecting the movement of small ships in the ocean. If there is a larger budget, a FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) device can be embedded between the nose and the Bendix radar.
Untuk urusan angkut pasukan dan logistik, Super Puma juga menjadi helikopter unggulan dibandingkan misalnya NBell-412 yang juga digunakan TNI AL. Sebagai perbandingan NBell-412 bisa membawa 10-12 pasukan, sedangkan Super Puma bisa membawa 24 pasukan. Sebagai helikopter yang disaipan untuk beroperasi di area lautan, Super Puma juga dilapisi lapisan proteksi anti korosi, dan rotor ekor yang dapat dilipat untuk bisa dimasukkan ke dalam hangar. Dari sejarahnya NAS 332 Super Puma diserahkan ke TNI AL pada tahun 1983/1984.

About the type there is a difference in information, Referring to the Aviation-safety.net site it is stated that the TNI AL Super Puma HU-442 that crashed in October 1987 was the NAS332L type, which from its identity is a civilian variant with a wider cabin and larger fuel tank capacity. On the other hand, the helios.com site states that the TNI AL Super Puma HU-442 is the NAS 332F type. In addition to the Super Puma HU-442 that crashed in October 1987, the TNI AL also lost a Super Puma HU-443 that crashed in November 1987.
From the information above, there should still be two NAS 332 units operated by Squadron 400 Puspenerbal, but throughout the observation the TNI AL Super Puma seems to have disappeared from circulation, some say the remaining TNI AL Super Puma was returned to PT IPTN, but there is no definite information about this. (Mas Sampurno)