Acmad Hasan new Air Defense chief

JAKARTA: Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto installed Vice Marshall Acmad Hasan Sadjad as the new National Air Defense Command chief during a ceremony at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force base on Tuesday.

Hasan Sadjad replaces Vice Marshall Zeky Ambadar, a 1972 graduate of the Air Force Academy who has been appointed coordinator of the expert staff for the Air Force chief of staff.

A 1971 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Hasan Sadjad was previously commander of the Air Force Staff College.

The National Air Defense Command was established in 1958 to protect the country from rebel attacks. At the time, Indonesia was fighting several armed rebellions that threatened the country's unity.

Today, the command oversees the national air defense, focusing on eastern Indonesia where illegal flights involving foreign aircraft frequently occur. --JP