RI, Aussie exploring cooperation in building joint patrol boats

Brisbane (ANTARA News) - Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said Indonesia and Australia were exploring a cooperation in building joint patrol boats, and if the funding is adequate, the construction work could be carried out at PT PAL Indonesia.

"We are currently exploring cooperation in building joint patrol boats. We are still discussing the technical, joint funding and marketing aspect of the project," he told ANTARA News on the results of the meeting with Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibon in Canberra, on Thursday.

Minister Juwono said he and his Australian counterpart Joel Fitzgibbon discussed mutually beneficial cooperation in the defense industry, including the construction of joint patrol boats.

PT. PAL Indonesia will be the place for the construction of joint patrol boats if the funding is adequate. "So far no target has been set, because everything is still in stage of technical certification exploration," he said.

The joint patrol boats are not only for Indonesia and Australia, but for other neighboring countries in the West Pacific region, he said.

In this context, Juwono said to staff personnel of his office had visited the facilities of the Australian defense industry.

Touching on cooperation between two countries` armed forces in handling disasters and in providing humanitarian aid, Juwono said he and Joel agreed to further develop the existing cooperation established in the wake of the tsunamis and earthquakes in Aceh and Nias in 2004 and 2005.

What has come up as the main point of Indonesia include mobility of the boats on the surface, cargo airplanes, medical supplies, rubber boats, field hospitals and other emergency needs, he said.

Australia may grant Hercules C-130 cargo aircraft to Indonesia if that country had already received type H Hercules aircraft, but type J Hercules are also needed now, Juwono said. (*) end