REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo stated here on Wednesday that defense system main equipment (alutsista) purchase should be based upon needs and not desires.

"Inputs from all branches of the armed forces - the navy, the army and the airforce - as well as the commander of the defense forces (TNI), the Minister of Defense and others must be taken into account so that we are sure what we need to buy. This way, we will end up buying only what we really need and not as per our desires," he said at a limited meeting on alutsista at his office.

President Joko Widodo also added that there needs to be transparency in the purchase of alutsista. "Therefore, the defense industry law must be implemented in every decision to carry out purchase of alutsista."

"This must be accorded priority so that the development of national defense industry really leads to self-sufficiency when it comes to our security and defense equipment," he stressed.

He hoped this meeting would focus on ways to fulfill the minimum defense requirement (KPM) by 2024.

"By 2019, the framework of TNI modernization should have brought in line with the 2024 KPM strategic plan," he assured.

Under the 2014 KPM, the army should have heavy military hardware such as medium-sized tanks, attack helicopters and special infantry weapons.

The navy, meanwhile, must have equipment such as a sub-marine, a surface warship and a maritime surveillance system to secure locations that have conflict potentials, he stated.

The air force, on the other hand, must be strengthened with strategic hardware such as fighter jets, heavy transport aircraft, missile defense system and radar system, he explained.

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