ABOUT TIME FOR INDONESIA TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN ARMAMENT SYSTEM

Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives Fayakhun Andriadi (Golkar party faction), said here Thursday that after the country had been building its military industry for such a long time, it was about time for Indonesia to become self-sufficient in its main weaponry system.

"If PT Pindad, the state manufacturer of arms, is already capable of designing, engineering, and manufacturing handguns and rifles, is it not the same that Indonesia is already self-sufficient in handguns and rifles? he queried.

The political and denfence affairs expert, who is now a member of the House of Representatives, said with the vast progress of Indonesia`s defence industry, the country is actually already capable of manufacturing pistols and rifles as many as possible, without significant financial problems.

"So, it is strange that in its arms purchases, the Ministry of Defence is still using the export credit facilities of other countries," he said.

He also said that PT Pindad is now also producing granades, mortars, and medium caliber cannons, which should already be exported.

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