The Indonesian navy will prioritize procurement of swift patrol boats to safeguard national territorial waters including those bordering other countries, its chief, Admiral Tedjo Edhy Purdijanto, said here on Tuesday.

To have a deterrent effect the boats will be equipped with adequate weapons, including missiles, he said to ANTARA News.

“In view of the minimal readiness of our warships, we must have a good strategy and high priority so that our territorial waters which are rich of mineral deposits, oil and other marine resources, remain safeguarded,” he said.

The procurement of swift patrol boats would also help empower the country`s ship building industry PT PAL which was alrady able to make swift patrol boats.

“Moreover, swift patrol boats are also more agile, especially for maneuvering in narrow waters such as on the borders with other countries,” he said.

Based on audit results the readiness of the country`s defense forces` weapons was now only 35 percent.

The readiness of the country`s army`s armored vehicles was now only 61.81 percent and that of the navy`s warships 16.55 percent and the air force`s fighter jets 30.88 percent.

The navy`s chief of staff said he could not predict how much the readiness of the navy`s weapons system would be after the defense budget was increased to Rp40.7 trillion next year.

“It will all depend on what we are going to prioritize, whether it will be combat, transport or other equipment that will be prioritized. What is clear is that based on the present condition we will prioritize swift patrol boats which will be adequately armed to create detterant effect,” he said.

Source: Antara