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tate-owned defense contractor PT Pindad is set to launch a new Indonesian-made weapon system that combines the capabilities of a tank and a ship, dubbed the “Tank Boat”, at the Indo Defense Expo in Jakarta on Nov. 2-5.

The Defense Ministry’s technology and defense industry director, Brig. Gen. Jan Pieter Ate, said the Tank Boat was an advanced piece of technology combining the land capabilities of a tank, as well as the maneuverability in water of a ship.

“So it integrates combined combat maneuverability, and this is the first technology [of its kind] in the world. This is a product of Indonesia,” Jan Pieter said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

The Tank Boat is 18 meters in length and has a crew of 12, he added. It could be used for coastal military operations as it could camouflage itself among mangroves, he said, adding that the Tank Boat was also able to maneuver in water to a depth of 90 meters.

Jan Pieter said the weapon system would be beneficial in archipelagic countries, such as Indonesia. He pointed out that the government hoped to reduce dependency on imports, and as such it would continue its efforts to develop the domestic defense industry.

He said utilizing locally made products would reduce state budget expenses, without compromising quality. “The government wants to become less dependent on products from abroad and for the domestic industry to fulfill [the country’s] defense needs. We’ll continue efforts to develop the domestic industry,” he said.