REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DEPOK -- President Joko Widodo is seeking a change in the procurement system of the military's primary weaponry defense system (Alutsista), among others, by encouraging domestic defense industries to be actively involved in the weaponry modernization process.
Indonesia should also strive to become self-reliant in procuring Alutsista by relying on its domestic defense industry.
"The most important thing is the Alutsista procurement should encourage self-reliance in our defense industry, so that we can take full control of Alutsista's preparedness," he emphasized.
"I also want the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) to strengthen its zero-accident system in using Alutsista. Every jet fighter, transport aircraft, warship, submarine, and helicopter, as well as military personnel that use them must ensure high operational preparedness.
The president offered his condolences to all victims of the Hercules aircraft that crashed in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday (June 30) and killed 134 people.
"Let us pray that we will be protected from any disaster," the president added.
As many as 72 bodies of the Hercules aircraft crash victims have been retrieved from the crash site in Padang Bulan, Medan, at 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Chief of Staff of Indonesian Air Force (KSAU) Air Chief Marshall Agus Supriatna stated that the Hercules aircraft, which crashed on the busy Jamin Ginting road of Medan, was carrying 101 passengers and 12 crew members.
"Based on the manifest, all the passengers were family members of the military personnel," Supriatna remarked.
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