Military to continue using aging but still serviceable armaments: minister

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Aging but still usable arms and equipment will continue to be utilized to support the National Defense Forces (TNI) in the performance of its duties, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said here on Thursday.

"Some of the aging armaments are no longer usable but some others are still serviceable and therefore we will continue to use those that are still serviceable," Juwono said after installing Maj Gen Safzen Moerdin as his ministry`s inspector general.

He said the TNI commander and the three service chiefs of staff were currently evaluating their respective aging armaments to determine which of them would continue to be used and which would be discarded.

"I am sure each branch of the armed forces has its own standards of arms serviceability because different armaments have different periods of usability," Juwono said.

Therefore, he added, based on the standards, each branch of the armed forces would decide which of its aging armaments would or would not continue to be used.

Juwono said 20 percent to 25 percent of the budgets allocated to the Army, Air Force and Navy was intended for arms and equipment maintenance.

"Although the budgets for maintenance are small, it will not reduce the TNI`s meticulousness in maintaining and taking care of its armaments," Juwono said, adding that his ministry would abide by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s directive to stop using armaments that have been in service for more than 20 years. (*) end