PT Pindad Partners Paramount on Defence Production

Medium Tank Harimau [Pindad] ★

Indonesia's PT Pindad has signed an agreement with South African defence company Paramount Group to explore opportunities for collaboration on military platforms.

The accord was signed at the Defense and Security (D&S) 2019 exhibition in Bangkok, which concluded on 21 November.

PT Pindad said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) will look at the prospect of joint production programmes between the two companies. The Indonesian company added that the agreement could support co-operation on the Harimau medium tank, which PT Pindad is developing with Turkey's FNSS Savunma Sistemleri.

Another platform identified by PT Pindad for possible collaboration was the X18 fire support vessel - more commonly referred to in Indonesia as the 'tank boat' - which the company developed in collaboration with Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin.

The MOU between PT Pindad and Paramount Group will "explore the potential for joint production and contracts", said the Indonesian company, suggesting that such deals would support sales to South Africa or additional markets.

In support of the Harimau, PT Pindad also signed at D&S 2019 a letter of intent (LOI) with Belgian company John Cockerill Defense to facilitate the supply of 18 Cockerill 3105 turrets for integration onto the tank. This is believed to be related to the production of initial batches of the Harimau for the Indonesian Army.

Jane's previously reported that PT Pindad signed an agreement with the Indonesian Ministry of Defence in April to support the production of an initial batch of the tank, although a formal contract has not yet been finalised.

During the D&S 2019 show, PT Pindad also signed a "strategic partnership" agreement with the Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MoD). PT Pindad said the accord supports "export sales of defence and security products" to Malaysia.

  ♞ Jane's