JK: Purchase Of Ex-Alutsista Is In Problem Because It Is Expensive

Vice President for the 2004-2009 and 2014-2019 periods Jusuf Kalla at the Change Coalition Secretariat, Jalan Brawijaya, Jakarta, Wednesday (10/1/2024). BETWEEN/Khaerul Izan

JAKARTA - Vice President for the 2004-2009 and 2014 periods Jusuf Kalla (JK) said that Indonesia has not only bought used defense equipment this time, but at a much cheaper price, not as it is today.

"I think the government hasn't bought used once, but it's always cheap. It's really cheap for used goods, especially if it's old," said JK in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 10.

According to him, the issue during the third debate of the 2024 presidential election was related to the purchase of the used weapon system (alutsista) because the price was too high to get a 25-year-old aircraft.

With this price, said JK, it is certainly not very similar considering that the technology obtained has also been far behind because it is still using technology for the year it was made.

"Actually, it's not just used, how much is the used price? That's a different thing. If this is the average price of IDR 1 trillion per plane, the plane is 25 years old," he said.

When people want to buy an airplane, he continued, there are two that are measured, namely the age and flight hours. For this age, it really affects the technology on the plane.

"If you buy new, you must have new technology. In addition, how many flying hours, there are rules for all airplanes, the important thing is that," he said.

Previously, presidential candidate Anies Baswedan said defense equipment must be based on the latest needs in Indonesia, not because of the tastes of the Minister of Defense.

Anies explained that the state needs a real and ongoing defense system, both globally and domestically, so that the strengthening of defense equipment must be in accordance with current conditions.

"These threats include hacking, online fraud, gambling, and terrorism. So, all of them need attention, not deciding to shop for defense equipment based on past tastes and preferences, but for future needs," said Anies.