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Defense-Aerospace.com reports that Thailand has ordered ten CN-235 aircraft from Indonesia. Six of the planes will be operated by Thailand Ministry of Defence, while the other four will be flown by Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture. Indonesia’s Dirgantara had originally proposed a barter system for the purchase, but final negotiations concluded that the $200-220 million deal will be paid in cash.
The CN-235 was developed jointly by Indonesia with EADS-CASA, and is produced and sold separately by CASA and Dirgantara. The aircraft entered service in 1988, and serves as a short takeoff light transport that can be employed a variety of roles. Many variants have been produced; over 230 CN-235s are currently in service with more than 20 countries worldwide, flying in conditions ranging from tropical rainforests to deserts and even the Antarctic.