Industry Ministry Finds Technology to Support Defense Industry
- vivanews/Andry Daud
VIVA – Centers of the Industry Ministry are finding modern technology or new inventions that are expected to support the domestic defense equipment industry. This matching effort is believed to spur the competitiveness of the national defense equipment industry so that its products are accepted in the global market.
The Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment and Electronics Industry (ILMATE) of the Ministry of Industry, Taufiek Bawzier, said that his party has facilitated several results of the utilization of industrial technology designed by the Ministry of Industry's centers.
"Therefore, we also facilitate several results of optimizing the use of industrial technology designed by the Ministry of Industry's centers, appearing at the Indo Defence 2022 event at JIExpo, Kemayoran," Taufiek Bawzier in Jakarta, on Friday, November 4, 2022.
The Director General of ILMATE argued that the Industry Ministry centers have been able to create technology that can support product renewal in the national defense equipment industry.
"With the findings of this product technology, we are optimistic that the performance of the defense industry will be stronger so that it can contribute significantly to national economic growth and support import substitution policies," Bawzier remarked.
All major centers or technical service units (UPT) under the Industrial Services Standardization and Policy Agency (BSKJI) of the Ministry of Industry are present to provide services in terms of industrial standardization, optimization of industrial technology utilization, and industrial services.
All of them are highly committed to the quality of services provided to customers, including industry players. The findings of the centers are not just researching, but are ready to be commercialized.
At the exhibition, held on November 2 to 5, 2022, in Jakarta, the Industrial Agriculture BBSPJI showcased a food testing technology for military purposes.
Head of Industrial Agriculture BBSPJI, Siti Rohmah Siregar remarked that the center also provided various technical services to the community and industrial agriculture players, especially in the food and beverage as well as fertilizer industries.
Meanwhile, the Metal and Engine BBSPJI presented a steel-plated track link for tanks, which is equipped with rubber pads, thereby reducing noise and facilitating the operation of the tank on paved roads.
"The modification is one of the factors that supported this research in obtaining a patent. Another advantage of the tracking link includes its ability to run on muddy areas, as it is equipped with small paddle-like parts," the BBSPJI head stated.
Furthermore, the Non-metallic Ceramics and Mineral BBSPJI brought bulletproof vests, bulletproof helmets, as well as coating products for military vehicles as a substitute for steel.
The invention of the bulletproof helmet is the result of research collaboration with the Research and Development Agency of the Defense Ministry and state-run weapon manufacturer PT Pindad.
"We always support the improvement of the domestic defense equipment industry. We also hope that the (innovation) results we develop can overcome Indonesia's dependence on foreign technology," Head of the center Azhar Fitri remarked.
In addition, Textile BBSPJI introduced the use of chitosan as an anti-bacterial substance on military uniforms. Chitosan is a by-product of marine commodities that can reduce bacterial growth in textiles by over 90 percent.
“With this chitosan-based finishing agent, the uniforms will not easily smell, although they have not been washed for several days. It can certainly increase the (level of) comfort and hygiene of the military or police personnel," Head of Textile BBSPJI, Cahyadi stated.