The special unit of the Indonesian Air Force has ordered 35 mm anti-aircraft weapons Oerlikon Contraves made in Switzerland to maximize its air defense.

“The weapon will replace Triple Gun made in 1950 which has long been used by the air force and some of them have been phased out since 1990,” the chief of the air force`s special unit Paskhas, Rear Marshal Harry Budiono, said when asked to confirm about it on Wednesday.

He said the 35 mm Oerlikon Contraves had been used in 40 countries in Asia and Europe. “If Indonesia is serious to buy it and has signed a contract they would start making it. So we will get the new ones,” he said.

He said Paskhas meanwhile would also continue to procure anti-aircraft missiles QW-3 made in China. “The contract is at the ministry of defense. We will buy three units and they will place them in Madiun (East Java) and Jakarta,” he said.

Harry said the procurement of some equipment was part of the air force`s capability development program for 2005-2009, which due to a limited budget it would only be continued in the 2009-2014 period.

Regarding weapons for its personnel and other combat vehicles Paskhas uses the standard weapons and vehicles of the defense forces (TNI). For example “we use SS-1 V1 produced by PT Pindad and others for an individual personnel weapon,” he said.

Source: Antara