RI-MADE ASSAULT RIFLES SHOWN IN MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur, April 22 (ANTARA) - Indonesia introduced its assault rifles SS2 V1 and SS2 V5 at the Defense Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2010 in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

The introduction was marked by symbolic handing over of a SS2-V5 rifle by Indonesian Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro to his Malaysian counterpart, Dato Sri Zahid Hamidi.

"The SS-1 and SS-2 rifles which are part of Indonesia's premier products were made by PT Pindad after research and development for almost 20 years in cooperation with Belgium," Purnomo said.

He said the SS1 and SS2 rifles and other variations produced by PT Pindad had been tested for reliability in military operations or shooting competitions.

"Pindad's SS2 rifles have been proven superior to other weapons of the same type," he said.

PT Pindad president director Adik Avianto, meanwhile, said that the introduction was expected to be able to strengthen the product's market share in the ASEAN region.

"The product has been proven superior. It is entirely made in Indonesia and has been used by the country's defense forces (TNI). It is hoped after being introduced in Malaysia the assault rifles of PT Pindad will become a reliable weapon used by the neighboring country," he said.

For the exhibition PT Pindad had provided five SS2-V1 and five SS2-V5 rifles.

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