... we will immediately develop the infrastructure for the Central Region Fleet... "Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The navy hopes the plan to form a new navy fleet will come to reality in 2014, Navy spokesman Commodore Untung Suropati said here on Wednesday.
The plan proposed by the navy is waiting only for an approval from the president to revise the presidential regulation No 10 in 2010 on the military organizational structure.
Under the present structure, the navy has only two fleets - Eastern and Western region fleets. The navy wants to have a third fleet for the central region.
"If the the proposed revision is approved, we will immediately develop the infrastructure for the Central Region Fleet, the Navy spokesman said. The military Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono already sanctioned the proposal, Untung said.
He said the new fleet will have command base in Surabaya, currently the command base for the Eastern Region Fleet.
The Command Base of the Eastern Region Fleet will be moved to Sorong, West Papua, he said. The Navy also proposed the forming of the Sea Defense Command (Kohanla), which will be the highest command of the navy.
The Headquarters of Kohanla will be in Surabaya, Untung said, adding, "We plan to place the Headquarters in the Central Region."
It would take two to three years to develop a new fleet, with development of infrastructure to take most of the time, he said.
Earlier, Navy chief of Staff Vice Admiral Marsetio said he hopes President Susilo Yudhoyono would approve the proposal to form Kohanla. "The proposal has been presented and is already sanctioned by the military chief," Marsetio said.
Kohanla will control three fleets -- Western, Central and Eastern Region Fleets. Marsetio hoped Kohanla infrastructure would be put in program by phases to start with the 2013 budget.
"In addition to procurement of main defense equipment to meet the Minimum Essential Force (MEF), we also need to prepare the personnel and defense system," he said.
Untung Suropati said fundamental change in the navy organization include expansion of fleets, marine force and expansion or forming new organizations.
He said Kohanla will be headed by a three star admiral or Vice Admiral and each of the fleets will be under a two star admiral or Rear Admiral.
The military headquarters have also sanctioned the expansion of marine force with the forming of a new division, the third division, in Sorong, Papua.
Earlier, lawmaker Susaningtyas Nefo Handayani Kertopati said the forming the new fleet, Central Fleet, is necessary given the country's vast sea territory.
More than 90 of the country's 17,499 islands, are located in frontier areas, the lawmaker of Commission I dealing with defense affairs added.
(AS/H-ASG/B003)
Kohanla will control three fleets -- Western, Central and Eastern Region Fleets. Marsetio hoped Kohanla infrastructure would be put in program by phases to start with the 2013 budget.
"In addition to procurement of main defense equipment to meet the Minimum Essential Force (MEF), we also need to prepare the personnel and defense system," he said.
Untung Suropati said fundamental change in the navy organization include expansion of fleets, marine force and expansion or forming new organizations.
He said Kohanla will be headed by a three star admiral or Vice Admiral and each of the fleets will be under a two star admiral or Rear Admiral.
The military headquarters have also sanctioned the expansion of marine force with the forming of a new division, the third division, in Sorong, Papua.
Earlier, lawmaker Susaningtyas Nefo Handayani Kertopati said the forming the new fleet, Central Fleet, is necessary given the country's vast sea territory.
More than 90 of the country's 17,499 islands, are located in frontier areas, the lawmaker of Commission I dealing with defense affairs added.
(AS/H-ASG/B003)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
