Indonesia needs more warships

Indonesia needs more warships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia needs to build up its fleet of warships if it is to protect its vast sea territory, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung says.

The 39 corvettes, frigates and tank landing ships recently purchased from Germany are barely sufficient to protect Indonesia's territorial sovereignty, two-thirds of which is in water mass, Feisal was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

He was speaking at the launching of the Navy's latest corvette named KRI Lambung Mangkurat in the Trisakti port in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Thursday.

Feisal said budgetary constraints will dictate Indonesia having to make do with its current naval strength to protect its sovereignty and uphold and enforce maritime laws.

It is up to the Indonesian Navy as to how it will effectively and efficiently deploy its warships, he said.

"With the arrival of 39 warships (from Germany), the Navy should be sufficiently strong," he said, adding that additional vessels would be purchased when state funds permit.

KRI Lambung Mangkurat, named after a legendary 15th century South Kalimantan prince, is a Parchim type corvette. It is 75.04 meters in length and 9.75 meters in width. Built in 1983, the ship was renovated and refitted before it was delivered to Indonesia.

The corvette is the latest of the 39 warships that are currently being delivered from Germany to Indonesia.

They come from a former East German arsenal.

The purchase, coordinated by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, at once sparked a controversy over its exorbitant total cost, which exceeded US$1 billion.

The government later agreed to slash the budget, cutting back on arms and the naval base development program.

Feisal in his speech said that the Indonesian military is resolute in its drive to modernize the force, and to heighten its professionalism, effectiveness and efficiency.

The procurement of the 39 warships from Germany is part of that program, he added. (emb)