MORE COUNTRIES PURCHASE WEAPONS FROM PT PINDAD INDONESIA

Jakarta, 26 Dzulhijjah 1436/October 9, 2015 (MINA) – State-owned land system and weapons maker PT Pindad said that many countries had shown interest in its weapons and that it had inked contracts to provide weapons to some of them.

“We are selling our products to places such as Singapore, Laos, Nigeria, the Philippines, Timor Leste and Thailand,” Pindad president director Silmy Karim told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Pindad produces automatic rifles, pistols, grenade launchers, munitions and tactical combat vehicles. The Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police dominate its market, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) quoted The Jakarta Post as reporting.

The company is also proud of its products as TNI personnel had won several international shooting tournaments using Pindad weapons.

“We have high-quality weapons, that’s why our soldiers win international tournaments and the weapons have attracted interest from other countries,” Silmy said.

Silmy said the firm’s most recent contract was sealed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in September, when President Joko Widodo visited Abu Dhabi.

According to the contract, Pindad will transfer technologies to UAE defense logistics and support company Continental Aviation Services (CAS), with the goal of enabling the local manufacturer and marketing Indonesian products. The products include the SS-2 assault rifle and ammunitions.

“The plan to build the SS-2 weapon plant in UAE will commence in 2017,” he said.

CAS will also collaborate with Rheinmentall Defense Canada to transfer technologies to Pindad, allowing the company to manufacture remote weapon systems (RWS) using Pindad’s name.

Silmy said that Pindad was still struggling to improve its products. The company had sent several of its best people to learn about weapons technology abroad.

“We need young people who understand weapons technology so that Pindad can produce more sophisticated weapons for Indonesia,” Silmy said

The 2012 law also supports Pindad in efforts to obtain technology from countries where Indonesia had ordered products.

Although Pindad had the opportunity to grow, Silmy said that the company needed more support from the government, including a sufficient budget to boost the company’s capacity (T/AFTa/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)