RI, Korea hammer out deal to develop tanks

Korean salute: South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, second left, inspects an honor guard prior to a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday. Kim visited Indonesia to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)The Indonesian and South Korean governments have agreed to work together to develop armored tanks and tanks. The agreement was made in the MoU between PT Pindad and Busan Ltd in Jakarta on Friday.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said both state weaponry maker PT Pindad and Busan Ltd would jointly produce armored Anoa Tarantula tanks.

"Indonesia will produce 11 units of Tarantula panzers; South Korea will make another 11 units," said Purnomo on Friday as quoted by Antara news wire.

PT Pindad president director Adik Avianto Soedarsono said the Anoa Tarantula panzer would adopt the technology from Doosan DST. It will be armed with a Belgian-made 90mm canon.

Adik said PT Pindad would also develop a lightweight combat tank starting in 2014 to cater the need of the Indonesian Army to strengthen territorial defense.

According to Adik, the plan to produce the lightweight tank is the answer to the concern that 90 percent of the armored tanks being used in the Army are not Indonesian-made.

The lightweight tank will refer to the K-21 tank produced by Doosan DST from South Korea and that of Turkey.

Aside from cooperation in tank development, Indonesia also signed an MoU with South Korea's Daewoo International Corporation to work together in the development of fast missile boats (KCR-70).

The signing of the MoUs was witnessed by Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.

In addition to expansion in the weaponry industry cooperation, both countries also agreed to join hands in training and the educational exchange of soldiers.