KRI Nanggala-402 Is Missing, DPR: Many TNI Defense Equipment Are Old, Must Be Rejuvenated

DOK ANTARA/KRI Nanggala-402

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission I DPR Utut Adianto assessed the loss of the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine in Bali waters as a signal that the main defense system (Alutsista) needs rejuvenation.

"We don't want this incident to happen again, we know that many defense equipment in the TNI are old and damaged. This is a big policy and the DPR wants to see the TNI strong," said Utut at the DPR building, Jakarta, Thursday, April 22.

He gave an example of aircraft belonging to the air force such as Hercules, who were old. When the plane is still in operation, said Utut, there will be a high risk. Utut n recalls a number of events in the Hercules plane that crashed.

Therefore, the PDIP politician suggested that Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and the chiefs of staff (kastaf) sit down with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani to formulate a new policy regarding the condition of TNI's defense equipment.

According to Utut, the forum needs to explain facts and data such as the condition of the TNI's defense equipment, the state's financial condition, including the potential for conventional warfare.

"If there is no potential for conventional war, what are the steps, because there are those who think that there will be no conventional war, but what will our attitude be?" Utut explained.

Regarding the loss of the KRI Nanggala-402 incident, Utut hopes that all the crew members (ABK) can all be saved. However, if it is not saved, he wishes all the best for all the victims.

"We pray the best for them (ABK, red) who fall," said Utut.

It is known that the KRI Nanggala-402 was reported missing contact Wednesday, April 21 in northern Bali waters. The Indonesian Navy has deployed 5 KRL and 1 helicopter in the search for the ship and its 53 crew members.

The Head of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Achmad Riad, told the chronology of the early disappearance of Nanggala-402. It is known that the ship with type 209/1300 made in West Germany lost contact about 60 miles north of Bali waters.

"At 03.46 WIT, KRI Nanggala carried out a dive. Then at 04.00 WIT, it carried out the inundation of the number 8 torpedo launcher. So it was not a missile," said Kapuspen Achmad Riad at the Base Ops Lanud I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Bali, Thursday, April 22.

Kapuspen added that when launching torpedo number 8, the last communication occurred. At 04.25 WIB, Wednesday, April 21, the Commander of the Training Task Force will authorize the firing of the torpedoes.

"That's where communication with KRI Nanggala is cut off," explained the Kapuspen.