Timika, Papua (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian Air Force will improve air defense in Papua territory to avoid foreign infiltration through the airspace.
The National Air Defense Commander Sector IV, Air Marshall Asnam Muhidir, said the Indonesian Air Force will establish a radar unit in Jayapura to enhance Indonesian Air Defense in the eastern region in 2015.
The institution also planned to build radar units in Sorong in West Papua Province, Ambon in Maluku Province and Morotai in North Maluku.
"The Indonesian Air Force plans to build four radar units: Jayapura in 2015, Sorong, Ambon and Morotai. We have cleared the land for the radar unit in Jayapura," Asnam said here on Wednesday.
We hope all of the eastern area can be covered after the radar was built.
The air force has four radars in the eastern areas such as 242 Radar Unit in Biak, 243 Radar Unit in Timika, 244 Radar Unit in Merauke and 245 Radar Unit Saumlaki in South East Maluku.
The radar units that were built in some areas helped prevent infiltration from foreign aircraft. "Foreign aircraft are no longer eager to violate our aerial border because almost all of the areas were covered by the radar," Asnam said.
The Air force noted the locations that could potentially be infiltrated by foreign aircraft, including the northern and southern areas.
The institution had also cooperated with civil radar units that were built in all airports, such as in Jayapura, Timika and Ambon.
Asnam added that the plan to assign jet fighters to stand by in the Papua area was yet to be implemented as the fleet was not yet ready.
The Air Force had prepared the Biak Air Base to be the hangar for Indonesian jet fighters to defend the countrys territory as it had adequate facilities.(WDY)
