TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Following the recent border tension in Indonesia’s Natuna Sea with China, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto officially requested a substantial upgrade for the country’s primary defense weaponry system (alutsista) in a closed meeting with the House of Representatives Commission I members.

“Special efforts are needed in the name of sovereignty. Our independence and sovereignty must be defended, and that needs investments. We cannot all of a sudden have a robust defense system,” said the defense minister in Monday’s closed meeting at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex.

However, Prabowo remained tight-lipped regarding this plan and chuckled after he was asked about Indonesia’s interest in purchasing 48 of the French Dassault Rafale multirole fighter jets.

The former Army’s Elite Special Forces (Kopassus) commander asserts that he will maintain close-coordination with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani regarding the plans to realize Indonesia’s primary weapons system.

“That is possibly what the French are hoping for,” said Prabowo Subianto.

Prabowo Subianto had visited a number of countries prior to today's meeting with the DPR, which includes his visit to France in terms to open up a partnership in strengthening Indonesia’s alutsista. Local news agency La Tribune and defenseworld.net reported that Indonesia’s government has shown interest to purchase 48 French Dassault Rafale jets.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI