WNAM MONITORING: The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), Admiral Muhammad Ali, has stated that the navy is currently assessing the need to acquire an aircraft carrier to enhance non-combat military operations.
“It seems that we need an aircraft carrier for non-war military operations,” he said at a press conference before attending a Navy leadership meeting at the headquarters of the TNI-AL in East Jakarta on Thursday.
He highlighted that the Navy has proposed the procurement of several types of essential defense equipment to the Ministry of Defense.
“We are planning to obtain various equipment over the next few years, including two frigate-class offshore patrol vessels from Italy,” he informed.
He further said that two domestically manufactured frigate-class ships have been prepared to solidify TNI-AL’s posture.
“Moreover, we will receive multiple fast missile-equipped boats from Turkiye,” he added.
He then drew attention to a Japanese grant of two patrol vessels, saying that his office plans to station the ships at a naval base located in Balikpapan city, East Kalimantan province.
According to Ali, the plan is intended to further fortify Indonesia’s defense posture in its future capital Nusantara, which directly borders Balikpapan.
“Our forces for Nusantara are currently centered in the Balikpapan Naval Base, which is still in need of more patrol boats,” he informed.
He added that the size of the ships is suitable for Nusantara’s geographic features.
“Nusantara is home to rivers. With these small vessels, measuring 18 meters in length, we can carry out security patrols in the rivers,” he expounded.
During a session in Jakarta on Tuesday, Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) approved the request of the Defense Ministry and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to accept the Japanese grant
