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Army to Purchase 10,000 SS-2 Rifles
Saturday, 24 December, 2005 | 08:30 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian Army is to purchase 10,000 SS-2 Assault Rifles from domestic manufacturer PT Pindad in 2006.

“We will only purchase weapons and spare parts. Tanks will not be purchased next year,” stated General Djoko Santoso, the Indonesian Army Chief of Staff, at Army headquarters in Jakarta on Friday (23/12).

The focus of the purchase of primary defense system equipment will be on domestic procurement.

However, the purchase of long-range infra-red sniper rifles from Australia for Indonesia’s Special Forces (Kopassus) is yet to be realized.

“I do not yet know if a team or a council will do the selection,” said Santoso.

The supply of other primary defense system equipment from Australia is still under review to see which is better.

“So, the purchase of primary defense system equipment is still in process.”

As reported earlier, Indonesia’s Kopassus and Australia’s Special Forces Command will work together in joint bilateral training.

Santoso also said that another requirement considered to be urgent by the Army was the reparation of damaged bases.

“We’re prioritizing bases in dangerous, conflict and border areas,” he stated.

According to him, there is a damaged base in every Military Region Command.

In these bases, the Army will carry out base maintenance as well as the repairing of light weapons.
(Fanny-Tempo News Room)