Jakarta. Dirgantara Indonesia, the country's aircraft manufacturer, has delivered a CN235-220, the company's famed twin-engine transport aircraft, to the Nepalese Army on Wednesday, completing a $30 million contract that was part of the company's push into the African and South Asian markets.

The aircraft departed from the Husein Sastranegara International Airport in Bandung earlier today and is expected to arrive in Nepal on Saturday. 

"This aircraft, the CN235, will be exported to Kathmandu, Nepal, based on a contract with the Nepalese Army signed in June 2017. We're glad that we can send it on time," Elfien Goentoro, the president director of Dirgantara Indonesia, told Antara news agency.

The airplane contract is worth $30 million, but may be revised according to orders for spare parts and other services, Elfien said. 

CN235 has six adjustable configuration modes, including transport, cargo, paratroop, medevac, maritime patrol and VIP transport. The aircraft sent to the Nepalese Army is preconfigured on paratroop mode. Dirgantara Indonesia shipped the configuration tools to Nepal separately ahead of the aircraft delivery, to allow for later adjustments.

Capt. Esther Gayatri Saleh is flying the aircraft to Nepal as the test pilot in command and flight instructor alongside Capt. Ervan Gustanto as her co-pilot. The Nepalese Army will conduct further flight tests on the aircraft before final acceptance. 

Dirgantara Indonesia has secured Rp 400 billion ($29 million) in financing from the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI) to fund its exports to Africa and South Asia. LPEI provided Rp 207 billion in working capital for the Nepalese project.