Jakarta. Defense equipment firm Pindad is supplying the Indonesian armed forces, popularly known as TNI, with fresh equipment as the latter celebrates its 79th anniversary. 

The Defense Ministry recently handed over a total of 569 new defense equipment --all produced by Pindad-- to the TNI at the anniversary ceremony at the National Monument on Wednesday. Vice Defense Minister M Herindra symbolically handed over Pindad’s products to the TNI commander Agus Subiyanto. 

The fresh equipment includes 250 units of Pindad’s Maung MV3 and 8 units of the Harimau medium tanks with 105 mm cannons, among others. They also include 23 Pandur 8x8 infantry vehicles, 9 Anoa 6x6 APC vehicles, and 6 Komodo 4x4 APC vehicles.

According to Agus, the equipment procurement is key to support the army’s operational activities. 

Read More: TNI Plans Spectacular 79th Anniversary Parade Featuring Jets, Tanks, and 100,000 Soldiers

“The government’s equipment procurement support is important because it plays a huge role in boosting TNI’s capabilities in facing the existing challenges, and is crucial to maintaining national security,” Agus was quoted as saying in a press statement.

Pindad’s president director Abraham Mose talked about how his company had played a key role in supporting the Indonesian military. He also thanked the Defense Ministry for trusting Pindad’s products.

"This event is key to show progress and support for national defense capabilities. Pindad has modernized defense equipment, and we hope that the handover can revive trust in the domestic defense industry, especially Pindad,” Abraham said, while hoping that Pindad could gain bigger contracts in the future.

The Harimau comes with a 105 mm caliber cannon, and a 7.62 mm caliber machine gun, and boasts modern technologies such as the laser warning system and battle management system. 

Pandur has a 30 mm caliber main weapon, can be equipped with SM 7.62 coaxial, and is equipped with modern technological weapons that have advanced Gun & sights stabilization capabilities, hunter-killer capability integrated with smoke grenade launchers, and a laser warning system. 

According to Pindad, Anoa, and Komodo APCs which have been battle-proven both in domestic and foreign missions (UN) have the advantages of high mobility, carrying capacity, and cruising range.