Indonesia's Defense Ministry to propose $8.5 billion budget for 2012

Indonesia's Defense Ministry to propose $8.5 billion budget for 2012

2011-06-02 03:17:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- The Defense Ministry's planning director on Wednesday said that a budget of 80 trillion Indonesian Rupiahs ($8.5 billion) for 2012 will be proposed to the Indonesian government.

General Bonggas Silaen, Defense Ministry Defense Planning Director, added that the proposed budget is necessary as the preparedness rate for the nation's weaponry was on less than 30 percent.

According to the Antara news agency, the government has currently allocated 0.69 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to the nation's defenses. If the budget is approved, the rate would have to be increased to between 1.8 percent and 2.2 percent of the GDP.

The weaponry's preparedness could be improved to a minimum of 80 percent and up to 90 percent with an $8.5 billion budget, said Bonggas. The planning director said that any rate above 1 percent of the GDP will be welcomed by the Defense Ministry.

Bonggas also announced that the ministry is planning to buy more radar units for improving the surveillance activities of the National Air Force which currently has 21 radio detecting and ranging units.

"Our air force now only has 21 radars whereas it should ideally have 42. The radars are urgently needed to monitor air traffic over Indonesian territory," said Bonggas. "This year alone, we will buy four new radars to be put in various locations."

The Defense Ministry is planning to deploy the new radars in Jayapura, Manokwari and Tual. The existing units are installed in Sumatra and Kalimantan islands. Indonesia is also considering installing radars in Sulawesi and Papua islands.

Bonggas added that the four radars are estimated to cost $114 million which will be allocated from a special budget of the Defense Ministry.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-02