REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla has ordered state-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad to retrofit the National Defense Forces (TNI)'s tanks.

"When it comes to medium tanks we have retrofitted them," PT Pindad President Director Silmy Karim said here Wednesday.

Since 2015 PT Pindad has cooperated with friendly countries to retrofit the government's medium tanks, he said.

"Regarding the medium tanks, we have cooperated with Turkey since 2015. The prototype of the medium tank is expected to be completed in 2017. It will use cannon in caliber 105 mm so we adjust its function to a modern tank," he said.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, accompanied by Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and Industry Minister Saleh Husin, was in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung to visit the factories owned by state-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad and state-owned aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia.

In the course of the visit, the vice president agreed to a contract for the purchase of several weapons to strengthen the country's military armament system.

"I come here along with the defense minister and the industry minister to re-evaluate our defense industry. The objective is to improve the country's defense capability so the weapon industry will increasingly become more self-reliant," he said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika