Deputy Minister Of Defense: Purchase Of 42 New History Print Rafales In Indonesia

Deputy Minister of Defense (Wamenhan) Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.) M. Herindra said the purchase of 42 Rafale fighter aircraft made by the Dassault Aviation France is a new history for the procurement of defense equipment in Indonesia.

He assessed that since the Republic of Indonesia was formed, the policy of buying 42 fighter aircraft has only been realized when Prabowo Subianto became minister of defense.

The Minister of Defense has purchased 42 new Rafale fighter aircraft. There has never been a history during this republic's existence, the procurement of 42 new war tools (as many as). This is at the Minister of Defense (Prabowo Subianto)," said Herindra when he was a resource person in a discussion entitled defense at the Media Center Indonesia Maju, Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Friday, January 12.

In a discussion themed 'Building Defense Forces in the Regional Region', Herindra explained that the creation of the 42 new fighter aircraft took time.

In fact, the 42 units of the Rafale fighter are likely to be operational for the next 7 years.

Therefore, in order to fill the existing vacancies, the Ministry of Defense plans to buy warplanes that can be delivered in a short time.

The option, Herindra said, fell on the purchase of fighter aircraft that had been used by other countries, such as the former Mirage 2000-5 Qatar Air Force.

"In waiting for the new one, this vacant vacancy is filled. This is not a used and new problem, but whether the aircraft war equipment is still suitable for use or not," said the Deputy Minister of Defense.

He made an analogy of the readiness of the Indonesian Air Force's combat with a perforated roof. If there is a perforated roof, of course it must be closed immediately, said Herindra, analogizing it by purchasing used fighter jets.

"Mr. Minister of Finance bought a new war tool, but at this time we see there is a vacancy and there are some that must be held quickly so that if you want to buy a new one is not as fast and easy as that, it is not easy to procure war equipment, you don't have money, you can't necessarily buy it," said Herindra.

He emphasized that Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto really cares about maintaining the performance of the TNI so that it is more optimal and professional. Prabowo, according to Herindra, always absorbs the aspirations of the TNI regarding the procurement of defense equipment.

"We will give our best. The procurement of war tools contains a bottom-up mechanism. The point is we ask the force first, what is the need, then they submit it to us, and we see how much budget is available," said Herindra.