Head of the Research and Development Agency (Kabalitbang) of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan), Major General TNI Heru Sudarminto, conducted a field visit to PT DAHANA in order to make some reviews on the propellant factory facilities. The General and his staff were welcomed by the President Director of PT DAHANA Syaifuddin who was accompanied by the Director of Technology and Development Suhendra Yusuf RPN at the DAHANA Campus, Subang, West Java, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
In his remarks, Mr Syaifuddin said that PT DAHANA’s is ready to scale up development and production in the defense explosives sector, as mandated by Holding DEFEND ID. He also hoped to get feedback from the Head of Research and Development Agency to make sure development of DAHANA’s defense products can be in accordance with user’s needs.
“We have several points of concern. Firstly, we currently have a vision from the holding to start increasing the portion of DAHANA’s contribution and work in the defense sector as so far it has been relatively small compared to commercial explosives. To ensure that we do not make wrong steps, we want to be able to consult with the Research and Development Agency regarding products that are needed by the Ministry of Defense in the future and provide strategic value for DAHANA,” said Mr Syaifuddin
Apart from that, PT DAHANA and DEFEND ID are currently paying more attention to the development of propellants which are products that are in high demand to develop the independence of the Indonesian defense industry. He hoped that the Research and Development Agency can provide support and direction so that the Defense Industry can gradually realize independence, especially in the field of munitions.
“Once again, thank you very much, Head of Research and Development Agency, welcome to DAHANA, hopefully you can provide strategic directions for all of us, which will be our reference in research and development,” hoped Mr Syaifuddin.
Meanwhile, the Head of Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Heru Sudarminto also welcomed the invitation to increase collaboration between PT DAHANA and the Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Defense. According to the General, the Ministry of Defense’s Research and Development Agency is ready to fully support the domestic defense industry. As the principle and motto of the Research and Development Agency for collaboration and synergy in order to empower the defense industry.
“We express our highest appreciation to the Board of Directors of PT DAHANA for their extraordinary welcome to us. The purpose and objective of our visit is to review PT DAHANA’s propellant factory facilities,” said General Heru.
As is known, propellant is intended for bullets or rockets, which is the main component of ammunition for the needs of Small Caliber Munitions and Large Caliber Munitions as well as rocket fuel. Propellants have so far have been imported, thus burdening the country’s foreign exchange and being vulnerable to embargo.
The government through Presidential Regulation No. 8 of 2021 on the General Policy of State Defense for 2020-2024 stated that one of the targets for mastering key technology for the 2020-2024 priority program is propellant.
The construction of the propellant factory is expected to create independence in the national defense upstream industry, create a deterrent effect, a multiplier effect, provide a guarantee of ammunition supply and import substitution.
