The Fennec helicopter is used for combat, combat support, tracking, escort and training duties around the world, including Indonesia.
TNI AD procured 12 armed versions of the Fennec, fitted with coaxial weapons, rockets, torpedoes and various other munitions, in 2014. The Fennec are lightweight, multi purpose military attack helicopters. These have been used during 2020 and 2021 attacks against ‘targets’ aka villages in the highland regions of West Papua.
According to Airbus, "This series of adaptable single- and twin-engine helicopters combines powerful light attack capabilities with highly cost-effective airframe and mission system solutions."
“Indonesia’s acquisition of the Fennec demonstrates this helicopter family’s suitability for operations in a full range of conditions, providing a highly manouverable and agile platform with low detectability,” said Philippe Monteux, Head of Region South East Asia & Pacific at Airbus Helicopters.
The Fennec attack helicopters used in West Papua are fitted with munitions and guns manufactured in Belgium, by French company Thales and the Belgian company FN Herstal. TNI AD Fennecs carry an FN Herstal HMP400 pod, mounted to store a 12.7x99mm FN M3P heavy machine gun with a capacity of 250 rounds. Fan site indomiliter.com enthuses that “with a firing speed of up to 1,100 rounds per minute, the HMP400 can be relied on to crush targets such as light vehicles, guard posts, and of course infantry.”
Heavier munitions in the form of FZ-219 rockets are supplied by the Belgian division of Thales, Forges de Zebrugge, Belgium. IndoMiliter explains that "many countries use FZ products because they do not depend on the components of United States (US) products, so they are safe from the threat of embargoes." The FZ-219 rocket system is paired with another Thales product, the T100 prismatic aiming system.