Jakarta (Antara) - Army General Moeldoko said modernization of the military equipment will come first in his agenda as a new Indonesian military chief. "I will prepare a working program to modernize the military equipment," Moeldoko said here on Tuesday after the House of Representative in a plenary session approved his appointment as a new military chief. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has named Moeldoko to replace military chief Admiral Agus Suhartono, who will soon retire. Moeldoko said he will also launch a program to improve military education and recruitment system. He said he hopes the House of Representatives would approve a proposal to increase remuneration for high performing servicemen. Last week, the army chief of staff passed a fit and proper test by the Commission I of the House of Representatives. Tubagus Hasanuddin, deputy chairman of the Commission I said Moeldoko is expected to modernize the military and strengthen its capability . On Monday the defense ministry said it will form a squadron of Apache AH-64 helicopters to be purchased from the United States. The ministry made the plan after the US government agrees to sell the high technology helicopters to Indonesia. "In order to build up our defense we will prepare an Apache squadron as combat helicopters," Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said after a meeting with his US counterpart Chuck Hagel, here. Indonesia and the United States will co-hosts the ADMM Plus, meeting on Counter Terrorism Exercise (CTX), to be held on 9 to 13 of September 2013 in the IPSC Sentul, Bogor. Joint military exercises between TNI and the US armed forces is important to promote the capability and professionalism of the TNI soldiers, Purnomo said. The meeting will also officially form a new area of cooperation of Experts Working Group (EWG) on Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA). (*)

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