Biak, Papua (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Air Force is to officially operate a Radar Unit 244 in Merauke District, Papua Province, on March 16, 2011 to improve monitoring of Indonesian air space in the region, an official said.

"The new radar unit in Merauke is expected to support Indonesian air space monitoring operations, especially the air space over the borders with Australia and Papua New Guinea," an Indonesian Air Force spokesman, Commodore Muhamad Saugi said here Monday.

Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Imam Sufaat would inaugurate the operation of the Radar Unit 244 ar a ceremony in Merauke District on March 16, Saugi said.

Some armaments and military personnel of the Radar Unit 244 were prepared for the inaugural ceremony, Saugi said.

The National Air Defense (Hanudnas) IV Sectoral Command of Biak had assigned Lieutenant Colonel Budi to head the Radar Unit 244.

According to Saugi, until March 2011, there was no report of air territorial violation of any military aircraft as there was a good monitoring and also coordination between Indonesia and the two neighboring countries, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The Hanudnas IV Sectoral Command is in charge for the operational of Radar Unit 241 of Kupang, Radar Unit 242 of Tanjung Bahari and Radar Unit 244 of Merauke.

(SYS/KR-AES/F001)

Editor: Suryanto
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