Pindad CEO : Defense Industry is too Important to Depend on Imports

PT Pindad (Persero) was  signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at weapon system sector with Cockerill Maintenance & Ingenierie SA (CMI Defense). The signing event was held on Monday, September 15^th 2014 at Pindad headquarter, Bandung. This MoU was signed by CEO of PT Pindad (Persero), Sudirman Said and Executive Vice President of CMI Defense, James Caudle. Also attended this event were the Board of Directors and related management of PT Pindad (Persero) and Patrick Ledig, Vice President of Bussiness Development of CMI Defense.

Cooperation between Pindad and CMI Defense was a cooperation that begun two years a go at weapon system sector. Pindad already able to produce the combat vehicle that became Indonesia pride product, Anoa 6x6 Armored Combat Vehicle and currently developing vehicle with chain-wheel. Cooperation with CMI was aimed to build a complete combat vehicle component by adding the weaponry aspect, in this case is the turret. We (CMI Defense) dont do vehicle and Pindad doesnt do turret. Its a perfect match, said James Caudle, Executive Vice President of CMI Defense on his official remarks. Beside to build a new capacity on combat vehicle weapon system, this cooperation would also make Pindad as the qualified supplier for CMI Defense global marketing map and certainly will increase the high technology capacity that would be owned by Pindad, PT Pindad will rise up in terms of high technology and in terms of global sales. We can help for the global sales because we have the global network, Caudle added.

Previously, Pindad was already assessed by CMI Defense and already fulfilled the necessity basic requirements that needed to bulild the turret weaponery system. According to PT Pindad (Persero) CEO Sudirman Said, this cooperation would increase the confidence of PT Pindad (Persero) and also would increase the trust of national industry, This cooperation will increase confidence for Pindad and will increase the trust of domestic industry that our products can already be exported abroad. Hopefully in one year to the next we can already produce the turret independently, he said. Furthermore, he was emphasized that this cooperation was one of the steps to build the defense industry independency that would be full controlled by the national industries, Defense industry is too important to rely on imports and needs a strategic and bold step to enter the next level in this industry. With various cooperations; turret, propellant, and long caliber ammunition, one by one of defense industry puzzle will be formed and under control of national industry.

Afterwards, would be arranged several technical steps which needed to initiate this cooperation and would be arranged in a tight working time frame so that within one year, Pindad is already capable of producing its own weapons systems and there would not be a room for delay anymore. In addition, will also conducted the exchange technical person between Pindad and CMI Defense to maximize human resource capabilities of Pindad. (Anggia)