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House, govt agree to purchase military communication satellite
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An unmanned Falcon rocket lifts off from from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on May 27 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (AP/-)
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n the interest of national security, the House of Representatives and the government have agreed to purchase the country’s very own military communication satellite, with procurement targeted for 2018, a lawmaker says.
House Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs deputy chairman Asril Tanjung said Indonesia had been using satellites facilitated by foreign countries such as Australia and the US, posing a risk to national security.
Indonesia also used a Garuda 1 communication satellite operated by Asia Cellular Satellite and constructed by US-based Lockheed Martin, however the permit to use the satellite orbit expired in 2015 and thus the empty slot should be immediately replaced so that Indonesia does not lose the slot, Asril said.
"Indonesia could secure the country's interests since the satellite would be operated independently by the Defense Ministry. The procurement is important since other countries already have their own satellite, which is ideal since [military communication] is secretive in nature," Asril said on Wednesday.
The decision to acquire the satellite was made following a series of discussions held by Commission I with relevant stakeholders, including the Defense Ministry and Finance Ministry, which approved the budget, as well as the Communications and Information Ministry, which regulates patent rights.
From the previous budget of US$ 849.3 million, the House and the Finance Ministry have approved a request for funding from the Defense Ministry to acquire a military communication satellite from Airbus Defense and Space for US$ 699 million. (dmr)
