(http://military-weapon.blogspot.com)VIVAnews – Chief of Indonesian Army, Pramono Edhie Wibowo, stated that Indonesia is still unable to manufacture tanks of similar quality as Leopard.
“We can’t manufacture heavy-weight tanks yet,” said General Edhie today, Jan 18.
Edhie said that there are three tank qualifications, which are: light, middle and heavy. Indonesia’s current technology is still trying to manufacture the middle-weight tanks.
Edhie explained that out of 11 Army cavalry battalions, the latest 2 battalions have Scorpion tanks.
“It’s a light-weight tank and made in the 50s. We are lacking behind when it comes to tanks,” he said.
Right now, the Army is cooperating with PT Pindad to upgrade 13 AMF tanks to middle-weight tanks. Edhie expected technology upgrade which may enable foreign technology to be applicable in the manufacturing of heavy-weight tanks.
However, Edhie confirmed that the decision to purchase Leopard tanks is not yet final as the Netherlands is basically going to replace the Leopard tanks.
“They have around 150 spare tanks. We are given the opportunity to see and choose and determine the prices,” he said.
“The tanks are kept in a warehouse. The sooner we get approval, the faster Indonesia can purchase the tanks,” he added.
The government’s plan to purchase Leopard tanks from the Netherlands has raised pros and cons. Some parties claimed that the European tanks are not compatible with the actual condition in Indonesia.
Others argued that Indonesia can purchase tanks tagged with more affordable prices as the European countries are under serious debt crisis.
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