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More countries purchase weapons from PT Pindad
State-owned land system and weapons maker PT Pindad said on Wednesday that many countries had shown interest in its weapons and that it had inked contracts to provide weapons to some of them
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tate-owned land system and weapons maker PT Pindad said on Wednesday that many countries had shown interest in its weapons and that it had inked contracts to provide weapons to some of them.
'We are selling our products to places such as Singapore, Laos, Nigeria, the Philippines, Timor Leste and Thailand,' Pindad president director Silmy Karim told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Pindad produces automatic rifles, pistols, grenade launchers, munitions and war vehicles. The Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police dominate its market.
The company was also proud of its products as TNI personnel had won several international shooting tournaments using Pindad weapons.
'We have high-quality weapons, that's why our soldiers win international tournaments and have attracted interest from other countries,' Silmy said.
Silmy said the firm's most recent contract was sealed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September, when President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo visited Abu Dhabi.
According to the contract, Pindad will transfer technologies to UAE defense logistics and support company Continental Aviation Services (CAS), with the goal of enabling the local manufacturer and marketing Indonesian products. The products include the SS2 assault rifle and ammunitions.
'The plan to build the SS2 weapon plant in UAE will commence in 2017,' Silmy said.
CAS will also collaborate with Rheinmentall Defense Canada to transfer technologies to Pindad, allowing the company to manufacture remote weapon systems (RWS) using Pindad's name.
The domestic strategic industry was dormant for years after president Soeharto stepped down in 1998 amid the economic crisis. The country received fund assistance during that time from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which had urged the government to stop supporting the defense industry.
However, during the tenure of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the House of Representatives passed Law No. 16/2012 on the defense industry and a special committee was tasked with focusing on the issue.
The idea was also in line with Yudhoyono's plan to equip TNI with a new and sophisticated weaponry system to meet the Minimum Essential Force (MEF).
As Yudhoyono's successor, Jokowi has promised to improve TNI's weaponry system by reducing weapon exports and placing more focus on weapon products from Indonesia.
'We will reduce imports of weapon systems by developing our defense industry,' Jokowi said, during the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the TNI in West Java.
Silmy said that Pindad was still struggling to improve its products. The company had sent several of its best people to learn about weapons technology overseas.
'We need young people who understand weapons technology so that Pindad can produce more sophisticated weapons for Indonesia,' Silmy said
The 2012 law also supports Pindad in efforts to obtain technology from countries Indonesia had ordered products from.
Although Pindad had the opportunity to grow, Silmy said that the company needed more support from the government, including a sufficient budget to boost the company's capacity.
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