D

efense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu reiterated on Wednesday the government’s commitment to developing the country’s defense industry.

Ryamizard said that his office was looking to prepare a 10,000-hectare site that could be used for state-owned aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), state-owned shipyard PT PAL and state-owned land systems and weapons maker PT Pindad.

Ryamizard declined to discuss details of the location, only revealing that it would be in Lampung. “The exact location is still confidential. I will go to Lampung to check the preparations.”

Ryamizard explained that PT Pindad currently operated on between 26 and 40 hectares of land. The arms manufacturer will have an additional 300 hectares.

But he stopped short when asked how the plan would be funded, saying that the most important thing for now was to focus on preparing the site.

“I don’t know yet about the funding. I will just prepare the site because it will be impossible to secure the land in five years’ time.”