"The TNI`s demand for ammunition this year has increased threefold and Pindad has also begun manufacturing SS109-type bullet for TNI," President Director of Pindad Adik Avianto said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Defence Forces` demand for ammunition has tripled this year, according to Adik Avianto, the president director of state-owned ammunition company Pindad.
"The TNI`s demand for ammunition this year has increased threefold and Pindad has also begun manufacturing SS109-type bullet for TNI," he said here on Wednesday.
Adik stated that Pindad had obtained credit facilities from state-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) in order to purchase a machine for the production of the 5.56mm calibre ammunition.
The machine will arrive within 18 months, he continued.
"BRI gave us a 10-year loan," Adik added.
Pindad had to borrow the money from BRI because the government`s capital participation, worth Rp300 billion, of the proposed total of Rp700 billion, has not yet been implemented, he noted.
After the government disburses the funds, Adik said, the company will be able to pay back its debt to BRI.
"But we cannot depend on it and wait too long. Therefore, we sought the permission of the state-owned enterprises minister to borrow the money from the bank," he explained.
Adik stated that Pindad was also manufacturing six Komodo armoured vehicles, which have excellent combat capability.
The vehicles are being ordered by the army`s elite Special Strike Forces Command (Kopassus) and the police`s mobile brigade corp, he said.
They weigh 4 tonnes and have a cruising capacity of 450 km, Adik added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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