JAKARTA, June 1 (Bernama): Indonesian state-run defence company, PT Len Industri, has inked a cooperation agreement with Thales to fulfil 13 ground-controlled interception (GCI) radars for the country’s Defence Ministry.
Thales will build the GM403 radars and command and control, while PT Len Industri constructs the radar stations supported by Thales and locally manufactures certain components on the radars.
Other strategic defence-related partnerships include military satellites, electronic warfare, unmanned aerial vehicles, and combat management systems (CMS).
"The agreement will explore the co-development of a national combat management system based on Thales' Tacticos CMS, currently deployed on the KRI Usman-Harun multi-role light frigate," the French defence group said in a statement.
Thales GM403 radar can reach targets as far as 450 kilometres and escort interceptor aircraft and attack aircraft in carrying out their missions.
Indonesia has outlined an ambitious military modernisation plan through to the mid-2040s, via its state-owned defence industry holding, Defend ID, launched on April 20.
Defend ID comprises five other state-owned enterprises, namely aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, explosives manufacturer PT Dahana, weapons manufacturer PT Pindad, communications equipment manufacturer PT Len Industri, and shipbuilder PT PAL.
According to an online media report, PT Len Industri's subsidiary PT Surya Energi Indotama (SEI) is currently eyeing rail and solar energy projects in Zimbabwe.
"There are several business potentials for cooperation with the Government of Zimbabwe in new and renewable energy," news portal Republika.id quoted SEI's business development director, Made Sandika, as saying. - Bernama
