Defence Minister Says Weapons Systems Development at PT PAL Is Progressing at Full Pace

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has affirmed that projects to build major weapons systems for the Indonesian Navy, being undertaken by PT PAL Indonesia, are proceeding smoothly and at full pace.

Sjafrie did so by visiting PT PAL in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday (27 October).

Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali said in Jakarta on Wednesday that Sjafrie had monitored several construction projects at PT PAL.

“He looked at several projects, including construction of the Merah Putih frigate, the Scorpene submarine, an unmanned submarine, or KSOT, the construction of an unmanned surface vehicle (USV), and others,” Ali said when met aboard KRI Sriwijaya-100, which was docked at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta.

Ali said Sjafrie had not only visited PT PAL but had also gone to PT DI and several domestic defence industries.

He welcomed Sjafrie’s visit, saying it could encourage domestic defence industries to improve their performance and commitment to modernising the Indonesian military’s weapons systems.

Ali also hoped the visit would reinforce PT PAL’s commitment to carrying out a retrofit, or technology upgrade, of KRI Sriwijaya-100.

“PT PAL is currently very busy. So we are waiting for PT PAL to be ready to retrofit this KRI Sriwijaya,” he said.