REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- General Gatot Nurmantyo was facing President Joko Widodo after approval of Commission I of House of Representatives (DPR) as a new military commander, on Friday, July 3. After facing President, Gatot stated he have a duty to immediately modernize the primary weaponry defense system (alutsista).
"The President said that the procurement of alutsista everything should be new," said the former Chief of Army Staff.
Not only modernization, Gatot also said it will conduct a thorough evaluation on all military defense equipment. The crash of Hercules A-1301 in Medan yesterday will be a momentum to make improvements in all war equipment belonging to the military.
President Jokowi, said Gatot, also asked him to maximize the use of local materials in the defense system in the country.
"Our defense industry should be raised, so that our future does not depend on the current way that can only be bought new tools without any transfer of technology. Technology that currently exist, is slowly adopted by us," he said.
Previously, Gatot had to take a test fit and proper test to be a military commander on Wednesday, July 1. All factions agreed and passed Gatot as a military commander to replace General Moeldoko. However, the time to inaugurate Gatot as the new commander has not been determined.