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Prabowo intensifies talks over weapons modernization plan
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto held a string of meetings with chiefs of staff from the Indonesian Military (TNI) earlier this week to discuss plans to modernize the country’s primary weaponry system.
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Prabowo Subianto gestures as he arrives to attend the inauguration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for the second term, at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta, Oct.20, 2019 (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
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efense Minister Prabowo Subianto held a string of meetings with chiefs of staff from the Indonesian Military (TNI) earlier this week to discuss plans to modernize the country’s primary weaponry system.
On Thursday, the minister held a meeting with Army chief of staff Gen. Dudung Abdurachman to discuss plans on modernizing the Army’s defense equipment.
“Defense Minister Prabowo discussed with the Army chiefs of staff and his aides on plans to modernize the Army’s weaponry system as well as the Army’s readiness to defend Indonesia’s sovereignty,” read a statement issued by the ministry’s public relations bureau on Thursday.
Thursday’s meeting came after Prabowo welcomed Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo on Tuesday, during which strengthening the air force’s military capability and readiness were raised.
Following the meeting, Fadjar told reporters on Wednesday that the country had opted to back out of a US$1.14 billion deal to purchase Russian-made fighter jet Sukhoi Su-35, and instead had narrowed its choice to United States-made F-15 and French-made Rafale.
“Regarding the Sukhoi Su-35, with a heavy heart, we have abandoned that plan as the development of air defense is very dependent on the budget,” Fadjar said as quoted by kompas.id.
Since his appointment in 2019, Prabowo has considered strengthening Indonesia’s external defense capabilities one of the objectives of his mandate. During his first 18 months in the role, he conducted 20 foreign visits to 14 countries in a bid to formulate a 25-year defense acquisition plan.
