Radar Reinforcement Important for Strengthening Defense Capacity: Navy Chief

Jakarta (Antara) - Chief of the Air Force Vice-Marshall Agus Supriyatna has said reinforcing the nation's radar capacity is important for increasing the country's defense capability. "For the Air Force, all areas are equally important. We particularly want a strong air defense, such as a reinforcement of the capacity of its radars," Agus noted here on Friday. The Air Force chief remarked that a good radar capacity will strengthen the defense and will help ensure the security of national aviation. "If we have radars installed in every corner, we can detect every aircraft that enters our air space. No (foreign) airplanes can enter (our air corridors without permits)," he explained. He observed that with a strong detection mechanism, foreign aircraft breaching the sovereignty of Indonesian territories can be stopped and driven away immediately. Besides radar reinforcement, the Air Force chief also stressed the importance of increasing the capability of cargo aircraft, which will not only help state defense cooperation but also assist with relief operations following natural disasters or vehicle accidents. Earlier on Friday, President Joko Widodo installed Vice-Marshall Agus Supriyatna as Air Force chief. Supriyatna has replaced Marshall Ida Bagus Putu Dunia. Agus Supriyatna was previously the chief of the General Staff Affairs of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI). (*)