Top Stories

Indonesia commits to technology development

Tom Abke

The safety and sovereignty of Indonesia depend on its commitment to technological advancement, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said during a tour of defense organizations in Bandung, the capital of Indonesia’s West Java province, in early November 2021.

Prabowo’s tour began at the state-owned defense firm PT Len Industri, where he was given an overview of defense technology projects including: the Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Room; the Solar and Electronic Module Production Facility; and the new Ground Controlled Interception (GCI) radar system, reported Indonesia’s Defense Ministry, known as Kemhan.

“The safety of the nation, the rise of the nation depends on technology,” he told the firm’s executives November 1.

PT Len is dedicated to helping the domestic military industry’s independence through such measures as forming a consortium to construct the GCI radar, President Director Bobby Rasyidin told Prabowo. State-owned industries are key, he added, “making operations efficient, and encouraging the overall defense industry ecosystem in the country,” Kemhan reported. (Pictured: Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, center, inspects technology projects at the defense firm PT Len Industri.)

The following day, Prabowo visited the Air Force Command and Staff School, where he briefed student officers on the importance of education and mastery of technology, according to a Kemhan news release. He emphasized that officers must continue to study and practice their skills throughout their careers.

“My hope is that you as leaders must think,” he said. “The beauty of a commander is to think. The leader’s job is to think.”

He also underscored the importance of a technologically advanced Air Force for Indonesia, describing national air power as one of the defining variables in contemporary conflict.

On November 3, Prabowo met with experts at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to discuss their contributions to the growth of national defense. He and ITB’s rector, Reini Wirahadikusumah, signed an agreement that aims to create cooperative activities in education, research, and science and technology development to achieve a strong and autonomous national defense.

Prabowo also observed some of the outcomes of ITB’s research and development, including the Active Electronically Scanned radar and passive radar, both of which were produced in cooperation with Kemhan.

“The progress of defense technology depends on scientists,” Prabowo said at ITB. “We really need you. We are ready to try to support your efforts and innovations.”

Prabowo in September 2021 signed agreements with two institutions in the city of Surabaya: Airlangga University and Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology.

As Indonesia seeks to strengthen its defense capabilities, spending on research and development and acquisitions is expected to reach U.S. $5.32 billion by 2025, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Tom Abke is a FORUM contributor reporting from Singapore.

 

IMAGE CREDIT: INDONESIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button