Indonesia Interested In French Radio Technology To Maintain Sea Security

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia can use the advanced radio surveillance technology offered by the French and can adapt it to supervise security operations on the sea.

This was stated by Deputy I Maritime Sovereignty, Arif Havas Oegroseno, who works under the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs.

"They have a new radio technology that has a range of 200 nautical miles from the coast. We can use it to monitor our Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEE) and ensure safety on the sea," he said on the sidelines of the Indonesia-France Maritime Industry Conference held here on Tuesday.

According to Arif, the technology offered by the French company, called Diginext, is a new technology used for deep sea surface wave radar in coastal surveillance.

Stradivarius technology, which is how the radar detection technology is designated, provides ZEE surveillance solutions. The technology hitherto in use can be deployed for other missions, such as identification and arrest (interception).

"The technology is cheap and does not need a satellite. So it is suited to our maritime security," he pointed out.

Arif reminded that the cooperation between Indonesia and France in the field of maritime has been in monitoring and marine research.

For example, Indonesia has procured KRI Rigel and KRI Spica, made by France. These are currently the most advanced hydrographic survey ships in Asia.

He explained that Indonesia is open to new investment by France.

"In the future, Indonesia can adopt a "business to business" model or a "government to business" strategy. They are ready to enter this sector. We will later study through the BKPM (Investment Coordinating Board) to determine the feasibility of such a deal," he explained.

Eleven French companies participated in a seminar, entitled, "Development of Infrastructure Technology for Ports and Maritime Security." These firms are engaged in the field of marine innovation cluster.

The firms are: Sirehna, Sophia Engineering, IxBlue, DCI, Bollore Ports, ECA Group, OCEA, Diginext, DCNS, Sofresud and Signalis. Most of these companies are engaged in port operations, surveillance and sea transport security, shipbuilding and defense industries dealing with oil and gas. (WDY)