Commander General Andika: All Countries Want An Ideally Military, But Must Face Budget Reality

Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev

JAKARTA - The TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa spoke about the sophistication and modernization of military weapons owned by this country. He said, all countries in this world must have aspirations to be able to have the ideal military.

"This means that today we have all the defense equipment we have, shortcomings and advantages, operational posts that were greeted by the President with all the shortcomings, that's what we are," Andika said as quoted by Antara.

Andika representing the TNI expressed his gratitude for the full support from the government, the Indonesian House of Representatives, and all elements of the Indonesian people.

The TNI Commander emphasized that with all the shortcomings that are still being felt, his party will continue to work together.

"Because of what? It's impossible for us to fulfill all our wishes. We want the ideal, the same with all the militaries of other countries, right. But in the end, we have to face reality with the budget we have, but we have to be able to, how do we make friends," he explained at the Merdeka Palace Square, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 5.

Another shortfall within the TNI that Andika gave an example was related to the main weapon system equipment (defense equipment), one of which was the F-16 aircraft, some of which had held air demonstrations in the Jakarta sky on the 77th Anniversary of the TNI.

Andika explained that the F-16 is a single engine aircraft and Indonesia still plans to procure an F-15 aircraft because in addition to having a dual engine, it also has a higher ability.

"Not to mention the number. F-16 we have 33 (units) with an area and flying hours, maybe...not maybe, it's definitely not enough. That's just one example," said Andika.

Andika explained several examples of shortcomings that became a reality for the TNI to enter its 77th age, one of which was related to personnel for border security duties.

The TNI Commander said the Entikong Cross-Border Post (PLBN) on the RI-Malaysia border in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan, which was greeted by President Jokowi on the sidelines of the TNI's 77th Anniversary Commemoration procession.

According to Andika, the RI-Malaysia border actually has a border span of 2,000 kilometers, but there are only 1,800 TNI soldiers on duty there.

"It means that if you spread it from left to right with one person from another, it's more than one kilometer away. It's actually less, but yes, we have to be smart, the important thing is that we can't give up with personnel shortages," he said.

Andika said that his party was trying to establish cooperation with the Indonesian people there through coaching so that they could help work to secure the border.

"We foster them so that they can be an early warning for us because if physically it is held, we are not enough," he added.