The Indonesian Navy will decommission up to 12 warships and 16 aircraft and replace them with new combat equipment, according to navy chief of staff Admiral Agus Suhartono.

Agus said the aging fleet of warships and aircraft would be scrapped as part of the navy’s fleet and personnel development programme during 2010-2014, according to thejakartapost.com.

“Initially, four landing ship tanks and four Nomad aircraft will be decommissioned,” he said.

“The navy has a total of 21 Nomad aircraft of which 16 will be scrapped with the rest to be used for training purposes.”

The navy chief said the scrapping would not affect routine operations as the current fleet comprised enough newly built warships and landing dock platforms.