In order to get the recent information on the readiness of the propellant industry to support the independence of Indonesian Army’s  Main Weaponry System (Alutsista), the Committee for Defense Industry Policy (KKIP) paid a a visit to PT DAHANA (Persero) Energetic Material Center area in Subang, West Java on Thursday, January 14, 2021. A total of 9 people were directly welcomed by President Director of DAHANA Budi Antono accompanied by the Director of Technology & Development Wildan Widarman.

 

Budi Antono said that DAHANA has built a propellant raw material factory, such as a nitroglycerin plant, denitration unit and acid plant (NACSAC). The Company has also constructed various supporting facilities for the propellant industry such as electric transformer substations, water treatment plants, laboratories and ballistic test facilities. Both the construction of the factory and its supporting facilities are a mandate of the Ministry of Defense in views of the the independence of the propellant industry in the country.

 

“In addition to that, DAHANA gets the benefits of its geographical position with large area, and close to the available access such as  Kertajati airport, Patimban Port and other sources of supporting raw materials,” said Budi.

 

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Yoedhi Swastanto, M.B.A, head of the Research and Development & Standardization Division of KKIP, in his speech expressed KKIP’s support for the propellant plant construction program in DAHANA. According to Yoedhi, the team will provide a report to DAHANA’s management with regards to the results of  visit review.

 

“In short, we would like to provide the best solutions to make sure that propellant plant construction project can run well,” said Yoedhi.

 

The said propellant is a propellant for use with bullets or rockets, which is the main component of munitions for the needs of Small Caliber Munitions (MKK) and Large Caliber Munitions (MKB), as well as rocket fuel. Domestic demands have been imported thus burdening the country’s foreign exchange and is prone to embargoes. For this reason, the development of the propellant industry has become one of the 7 National Superior Programs in order to realize the independence of the Defense Industry. (rmt)