Indonesia to purchase more tanks from Germany
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Thu, September 13 2012, 9:01 PM
After the purchase plan of 103 Leopard main battle tanks from Germany, the Defense Ministry on Thursday stated that it would buy another 50 Marder 1A3 and 10 supporting tanks from the same country by September.
Deputy Defense Minister Lt. Gen. (ret) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and his entourage from the ministry received the German charge d'affaires, Heeidrun Tempel, to talk about the details of the procurement at the ministry on Thursday.
“The tank producer, Rheinmetall, will be in Indonesia in the fourth week of September to finalize and sign the purchase deal,” Sjafrie said on Thursday as quoted by Antara news agency.
Sjafrie said Rheinmetall had prepared the first shipment of the Leopard tanks.
The ministry had previously requested that the shipment reach it before Oct. 5, hoping to exhibit them at a ceremony celebrating the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) anniversary. However, several administration and logistic barriers between the parties mean the tanks will be available only for the 2012 Indo Defense exhibition in November.
A high-level committee (HLC) led by Sjafrie will also visit the manufacturing companies in Frankfurt, Germany, next week to observe the process.
The Marder tank is said to be a reference to the country's effort to manufacture its own tanks in the future. (fzm/swd)
