"I hereby officially launch The KRI Clurit," the minister said at a ceremony at the Batu Ampar cargo port in Batam, Riau Islands province.
The minister said the KRI Clurit was a swift missile-carrying ship designed and built fully by Indonesians at PT Palindo Marine here.
"With it, Indonesia has started to have the capability to safeguard its seas with self-made ships. We no longer need handouts," he said.
The launching of KRI Clurit-40 was the answer to the question on the responsibility for safeguarding Indonesia`s territorial waters which are rich in natural resources.
He said many sea passages in Indonesia`s territorial waters were also international trade lanes.
"This event is a milestone in the country`s journey to defense industry self-reliance," he said.
He said production of main defense equipment would not stop with the KRI Clurit`s making. He said the government would continue to provide the National Defense Forces (TNI) with more ships. He said a submarine and a destroyer made in Indonesia would be the next additions to the Indonesian navy`s fleet.
Yusgiantoro said the navy needed strong ships that can also secure Indonesia`s territorial waters in remote areas.
TNI Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono meanwhile said on the occasion that the navy had ordered two KCR-40s and would order 20 more of different types.
The KRC-40 would operate in Indonesia`s western waters which are geographically dotted by small islands and divided by straits.
The KRI Clurit was named after a Madurese dagger. Clurit has a form of a question mark believed to reflect the character of Madurese people who will never be satisfied with what they have and their tenacity.(*)
H-YH/HAJM/S012
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
