News Focus: Indonesia To Reduce Dependence on Other Countries for Weaponry System
Indonesia is trying to gradually reduce its dependence on imported defense weapons and equipment by revitalizing its domestic defense industries in strengthening the national defense system.
Chairman of the Commission I of the House of Representatives Kemal Aziz Stamboel said the procurement of national weaponry system for the defense forces should be based on products of local defence industries.
“This has to do with the plan of defense ministry in the procurement of weapons focusing on products of local defense industries,” Kemal who is a member of the Prosperous Justice Party Faction said over the weekend in response to the Defense Minister`s remark on the plan to develop defense industries.
By doing so, according to him, a thorough effort to strengthen state-owned defense industries is badly needed. “We hope that there will be a thorough synchronization of the existing forces in long- and- short term plans in the procurement of weaponry system for the defence forces,” he said.
Earlier, former vice chairman of the House Commission I Yusron Ihza Mahendra said Indonesia had to be able to adopt ways of how Brazil and India were able to revitalize their defense industries which later turned out to develop into profit producing centers for them.
“The United States, Russia and some other countries in Europe have succeeded in developing their defense industries. In fact, countries like India and Brazil have also started to develop their national defense industries in an efficient way so that they are now able to contribute their successes to their respective economies,” he stressed.
Indonesia has enough human and natural resources as well as the financial capability to build its national defense industry which can be developed into a profit producing center for this world largest archipelagic country.
“All it takes is action of the government,” he said adding that the House must encourage the government to strengthen the national defense industry based on a clear and better blue print.
“Now it is up to the political will and real action of the government,” Yusron said.
Yusron saw that the revitalization of local defense industries will bring about a significant absorption of labor, if competitive, defense products could also be made as primary export commodities.
Most importantly, according to Yusron, was how Indonesia could become self-reliant and sovereign on defense weapons and able to reduce its dependence on imported defense products with all kinds of restrictions and embargo imposed by the exporting countries.
Anther legislator who is also a member of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s commission dealing with defense affairs, Tjahyo Kumolo, said the government, through the defense ministry, should be more focused on its efforts to revitalize the national defense industry.
“I am sure Indonesia will be able to produce its own weaponry and no longer needs to become dependent on other countries,” Tjahjo said.
Indonesia is expected to no longer import its weaponry systems since it will only benefit the exporters and degrade the national defense industry.
Sharing the opinion with Tjahyo is Fayakhun Andriadi, another House Commission I member said the domestic defense industries already had the capability to produce several types of weapons such as short-barrel and long-barrel guns, bullet-proof vests and helmets as well as patrol boats.
“The government must support the industry to grow by persuading national banks to give them loans and capital. This will be easier than always importing weapons,” he said.
In the meantime, Purnomo Yusgiantoro was reported to have acted fast after being installed as defense minister by conducting a series of workshops aimed at revitalizing Indonesia`s strategic industries, to allay public doubts about his capabilities to handle the defense portfolio.
The workshops were a success, as for the first time all stakeholders were assembled at one place and discussed all their concerns.
First, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police, the main users of domestically-made weapons systems, outlined on Nov. 18, 2009, their projected needs.
Based on these requirements, the defense industries then presented on Nov. 24, 2009, their options based on their current capabilities and needs.
After the end-users and producers had presented what they need and what they can do, a discussion on the financial side was held with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani and national bankers presenting their ideas.
These presentations have created a complex and complete map of the position of the stakeholders.
The end-users, for example, complained that the products were not reliable in delivery and quality.
Producers lamented the fact that there were not enough orders to sustain an economical production due to the small quantities of products per order as well as the government`s lack of support by preferring to use foreign suppliers.
PT Pindad President Director Adik Avianto Soedarsono, for example, expected the government to integrate its procurement program into a continuous policy so that the defense companies might better plan their production cycles.
“Most procurement is made at such short notice that it is prone to delays,” he told the meeting.
Domestic financiers also questioned the government`s commitment and guarantee before the banks could channel funds to the weapons producers.
Purnomo admitted the domestic strategic industries, especially those producing the weapons systems, still had to work on improving its product quality, timely delivery, after sales service and spare parts.
He also said the strategic industries would be expected to spur the whole national industrial sector by providing parts and components in the supply chain feeding the defense industries.
Indonesia has been under a US and UK-led arms embargo imposed by Western countries for alleged human rights abuses.
This has revived dreams of an indigenous defense industry especially with current production capabilities, which range from transport vessels and aircraft, armored personnel carriers to small-caliber firearms.
PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI), for example, is producing the medium CN-235 and light NC-212 Aviocar transport aircraft in cooperation with the Spanish aerospace firm CASA EADS.
PT Pindad has moved from license producing SS-1 asault rifles of Belgian company FNC to its own design of SS-2 assault rifles, which are said to combine the accuracy of the American M-16 with the reliability of the notorious Russian AK-47.
State shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia has just delivered two landing platform docks (LPDs) to the Indonesian Navy.
The two LPDs were part of a contract of four LPDs with a South Korean company that agreed to have PT PAL build two LPDs as its sub-contractor.
PT PAL has also submitted various designs, from 60-meter offshore patrol vessels to
helicopter carriers, based on its 50,000-ton cargo vessels.
These industries could be revitalized in a bid to gradually reduce the country`s defense weapons on other countries for weaponry system.
Source : Antara
