First two prototypes of Turkish-Indonesian medium tank should be unveiled in 2015 270420153.

During a work visit of Indonesian parliamentarians to PT Pindad (Persero) regarding PT Pindad (Persero) cooperation with Turkey for the medium tank, Major General TNI (Purn.) Supiadin Aries Saputra representing his group said: “This visit was held to gather information and its specifics regarding the development of defense cooperation between Pindad and Turkey, as well as the response from Ministry of Defense and TNI to support the implementation of the cooperation”.

The President Director of PT Pindad (Persero) Silmy Karim, in response to the regarding matter, said that this joint project of Indonesia-Turkey regarding the medium tank had been initiated since long ago, though Pindad analytical skill continued. “This cooperation has been initiated since long ago by the Government, in fact the signing has been done since year 2013. In manufacturing and testing Pindad is ready. Although, there are some technologies that still need the assistance from partners such as turret and firing control system, navigation system, and self-defense system. We want to make a medium tank with the perfection on the mobility, fire powder, and survivability,” he added.

The schedule to processing project had been made. If nothing went wrong, in 2015, one unit of prototype will be made in Indonesia and another one in Turkey. The communication has been maintained intensively between Ministry of defense of Indonesia and SavunmaSanayiiMustesarligi (SSM), Ministry of Defense of Turkey. “For the progress of B2B, some of workers of Pindad have been sent to learn the welding technique of aluminum armored that is used as the raw material of the medium tank,” said President Director of Pindad Silmy Karim. He also admitted he felt optimistic that this project would run well in the future. “We are optimistic that medium tank program will run well because the industrial technology capacity of Indonesia and Turkey are good enough,” he closed.