Prabowo: Now It Is Urgent, We Must Modernize The Defense Equipment Faster

DOK ANTARA / Prabowo Subianto

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto emphasized the urgent situation to accelerate the modernization of the main weapon system (Alutsista). The acceleration of defense equipment modernization is related to the loss of KRI Nanggala-402.

"Now we urge us to modernize our defense equipment even more quickly and we are sure, I am sure, that soon we can modernize our equipment for the three dimensions, sea and air", said Prabowo at a press conference with the TNI Commander, Thursday, April 22.

Prabowo emphasized that the modernization of defense equipment is a priority. According to him, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has ordered the preparation of a master plan to ensure the strength of the national defense.

"(Compilation) of the master plan (span of) 25 years which gives us a totality of defense capabilities, we are currently finalizing. We are working on it, we are working on it, God willing, in 2-3 weeks we will complete it together with the TNI Commander and the Chief of Staff and we will convey it to the President", he said.

Prabowo admitted that efforts to improve the welfare of TNI members are difficult to go hand in hand with the modernization of defense equipment. But the rejuvenation of defense equipment is encouraged to be prioritized.

"We are currently formulating the management of defense equipment procurement to be more orderly, more efficient. But we do need to rejuvenate our defense equipment. Many of our defense equipment are indeed due to compulsion and because we prioritize the development of our welfare, we have not modernized it faster", added Prabowo.

Prabowo also mentioned the procurement of 3 new submarines from South Korea. Currently, the submarine is being tested.

"Indeed, we plan to add more submarines, but I want to always underline, let alone the problem of this submarine operation, this is one in the whole world, is an operation or a field of warfare which is the most complex, the most difficult, and the most dangerous", said Prabowo.