Army still deciding on tank deal: Defense Ministry
Dicky Christanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 02/16/2012 3:27 PM
Kompas.comDefense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Hartin Asrin says that the Army hasn't made up its mind on Main Battle Tanks (MBT) it intends to purchase as part of its effort to modernize Indonesia's main weaponry systems.
Right now the Army has expressed intention to purchase 100 used Leopard MBTs from the Netherlands
as part of its effort to complete its main weaponry system portfolio.
“They are still window shopping, deciding on what should be purchased,” Hartin told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
A team under Army deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Budiman is currently conducting on assessment on the offers.
Besides the Dutch, there are at least two other countries that have offered tanks to the Army. Russia has offered its T90 MBT and Germany with its new Leopard tanks.
Responding to the plan, the Dutch parliament expressed its disagreement with its government’s plan to sell the tanks to the Indonesian Army, citing that the latter had its reputation tainted with human rights violations.
