IO – Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto is committed to the modernization of our weaponry system and strengthening our National Army in its efforts to protect the sovereignty of the Integrated Republic of Indonesia (Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia – “NKRI”). The latest evidence of this commitment is the launching of the tank carrier warship (AT-8) H-355 for the Indonesian Navy. The ship was constructed by PT Bandar Abadi Ship Builders and Dry Docks.
The tank carrier warship, officially named KRI Teluk Weda-526, was officially launched by the Head of the Ministry of Defense’s Center for the Defense Facility’s Defense Equipment, Air Commodore Asfan Jauhari, in Batam, on Saturday (27/02/2021). Also present at the event were Commissioner Standly Rojali; Director of PT Bandar Abadi, Maslina Simanjuntak; and high officials from the Ministry of Finance as well as senior officers of the Indonesian Navy.
Having PT Bandar Abadi construct this tank carrier warship is one of the Government’s efforts to guide our domestic weaponry and encourage its independence, which will reduce our dependence on foreign defense industries, especially in terms of procuring warships. The tank carrier warship KRI Teluk Weda-526 has a length of 117 m, maximum speed of 16 knots (full load), carries 111 crew members, and has the ability to load 367 soldiers and 15 BMP-3F tanks.
Jauhari stated that “The launching of this ship is an important moment in our ship procurement, which occurs right after the ship’s structure is completed. This tank carrier ship was constructed with funding from Domestic Loans in the 2018 budget year, with construction starting on 13 September 2019.”
Jauhari expects that ship construction will be completed within schedule. “The procurement of tank carrier ships is part of the establishment of minimum essential force in our Defense Force Building program, in accordance with the 20152019 Strategic Plan,” he said.