TNI AU Preparing for Fighter Jets Squadron in Eastern Indonesia

Biak, Papua (Antara) - The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) will buy fighter jets this year as part of preparations to build a squadron of fighter jets in eastern Indonesia, Air Force Chief Marshal Ida Bagus Putu Dunia stated. "The TNI AU Headquarters will procure fighter jets this year. It is true they will be particularly stationed in eastern Indonesia," he confirmed here, on Wednesday. The plan to build a squadron of fighter jets in eastern Indonesia had been incorporated in the TNI AU Headquarters' grand design, he noted. The preparedness of infrastructure facilities, personnel and state financial support was necessary to realize the plan, he pointed out. "The TNI Headquarters is still considering when exactly the squadron of fighter jets in eastern Indonesia will be built. To be sure, we will augment the number of fighter jets this year to strengthen the capability of the Air Force soldiers in guarding the air territory of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia," he explained. Putu Dunia, former chief of the national air defense command for Biak, Papua stated that four units of TNI AU radars had been built in Timika, Merauke and Biak to safeguard the air traffic over the Papua region. "With the TNI AU radars, we hope we will be able to monitor the movement of any plane flying over Papua and surrounding areas. Right now all air bases and radar units in Papua have been performing their duties according to the tasks of the Indonesian military (TNI) soldiers," he added. (*)