"We are ready to receive the Leopard MBT. We have constructed the Leopard special garage base," said Commander of the 8th Cavalry Battalion of Kostrad Lieutenant Colonel Otto Sollu on Wednesday.
He added that the 8th Cavalry Battalion has prepared a garage for at least 20 units of the tank for the 2012 programme.
The battalion is also preparing a garage to accommodate 13 units of the Leopard tank for the 2013 programme.
The battalion has trained several soldiers of Yonkav 8 to control Leopard skilfully.
"We have trained at least 494 personnel, and they are able to operate the Leopard, including 46 vehicle commanders, 46 tank drivers, 27 shooters, and 41 munitions loaders. Several Commissioned Officers as well as Privates will be learning German too," Sollu explained.
The 8th Cavalry Battalion is one of the battle assistant units in the Kostrad line-up, under the command of the 2nd Infantry Division of Indonesia Army.
The 8th Cavalry Battalion is reinforced by 53 units of the defence armoured tank "Scorpion" and a number of Stormer APC tanks.
Indonesia will add 103 units of the Leopard tank gradually; it had signed a contract in 2012.
Previously, Deputy Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Indonesia will purchase at least 103 units of the Leopard tank, 50 units of the Marder tank and ten support tanks from Germany.
(UU.B019/INE)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
