TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Defense Ministry and the Swedish Defense Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the primary weapons defense system sector.
Both countries have considered tightening relationship through submarine procurement.
"[Sweden] offers submarines in addition to fighter jets," Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said after the MoU signing at his office in Jakarta on Tuesday, December 20, 2016.
Earlier, the Defense Industry Policy Committee (KKIP) said that there are seven priority programs included in the national defense industry roadmap. The seven programs are productions of propellant, missiles, medium tanks, radars, fighter jets, and submarines.
Sweden-made submarines have been claimed to be the best in the world. One of the submarines, HMS Gotland, tested in the United States in 2005, was able to defeat US submarines and even penetrated dangerous zones.
Ryamizard admitted that no decisions yet have been made in relation to the submarine procurement. Ryamizard revealed that he was invited by the Swedish Defense Ministry to observe their submarine technology.
"If we decide to by, there will be counter-trade and offset," Ryamizard said.
ISTMAN MP
