T

he German Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT) and Marder infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) will highlight the 2012 Indo Defense Expo and Forum, a top defense official said on Tuesday.

“The MBT and IFV will be the icons of the Indo Defense Expo — as we are buying two battalions of the heavy tanks,” Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said at a press conference ahead of the biennial event.

Sjafrie added that the acquisition of armored combat vehicles would strengthen the posture of the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) minimum essential force (MEF).

He said that the government was buying about 100 Leopard 2 MBTs, 50 Marder IFVs, seven supporting tanks — including bridge, recovery and ambulances — and tank transporters.

“We are buying Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2 Revolution models that are already modified and have new armaments,” Sjafrie said. “We can use them as soon as they arrive.”

The armored vehicles, bought with a US$280 million foreign loan, will arrive in batches beginning at the end of this year and continue through the first half of 2014.

Indonesia is buying the MBTs from Rheinmetall rather than Krauss Maffei-Wegmann, another maker, Sjafrie said.

As for Indonesia’s indigenous defense products, Sjafrie said the Pindad’s Anoa 6x6 armored personnel carrier would be the star of the event.

He said more participants are taking part in this year’s defense expo, which is already in its fifth edition.

“We have 600 companies from 50 countries in five continents and there will be 25 country pavilions this year. Also attending
will be seven defense ministers as well as defense deputy ministers, defense officials and military chiefs,” he said.

The fifth Indo Defense Expo and Forum will be held on Nov. 7-10 at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, the event anticipates 20,000 visitors.

The organizers behind the event, PT Napindo Media Ashatama, also hold the Indo Aerospace and Indo Marine expos.

Napindo president director, Herman Wiriadipoera, said there would also be seminars on defense and marine industries as well as technical presentations from participants.

He added that during the event there would be aerobatic displays performed by the Indonesian Air Force’s Jupiter and Dynamic Pegasus aerobatic teams.

Sjafrie expects local defense firms to form the larger part of exhibitors in the years to come, adding there would be a launch of 27 R-Han 122 rockets in Pameungpeuk, West Java, which will be broadcast live during the expo opening.

The expo will open on the last day to the public so that the general population can see Indonesian-made products and ones bought from abroad, he added. (yps)