REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, KUPANG -- Indonesia needs more submarines for defense as it now only has two, the commander of the country's defense forces (TNI), General Gatot Nurmantyo said here on Sunday.

"Right now we only have two submarines and so we still need more. Minimally there are three in the front line and three others in the back. They also may not be deployed together. There must also be maintenance," he said.

He said Indonesia as a big maritime country ideally has to have one combat task force that functions in turn.

General Gatot Nurmantyo is visiting the country's eastern region to see the right location for stationing submarines.

"It is still a secret. A submarine is very important. As it is operating under water enemies will not see it," he said.

He said Indonesia must be strong with regard to realizing President Joko Widodo's idea to make the country the world's maritime axis in its air, land and sea defense.

He said the potential of the country which is rich with islands must be exploited as "aircraft carriers".

"We do not need aircraft carriers as we can use our islands as ones. Here we ca station fighters, transport planes, ships as well as logistics. What is the difference between them and aircraft carriers with regard to safeguard our territory," he said.

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