Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, October 9, 2026 at 12:32 PM UTC

Two years of Prabowo-Gibran: advancing Indonesia's military strength

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Walda Marison, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Since taking office two years ago, President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka have brought in a wide variety of primary weapons systems (alutsista) for the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI).

Most of the weapons systems arriving between 2025 and 2026 are the result of purchases made by Prabowo during his tenure as Minister of Defense from 2019 to 2024.

This new series of weapons systems was supposed to be showcased in a parade on October 4 and 5, 2026, to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the TNI.

However, due to certain considerations, the TNI changed the traditional parade of weapons systems during the anniversary celebrations to a simpler ceremony at the TNI Headquarters field in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on October 5.

The following is a list of various TNI weapons systems that arrived during President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

1. KRI Brawijaya-320 and Prabu Siliwangi-321

These two frigates are the Navy’s first combat defense equipment purchased from an Italian company.

The ship, made by the Italian manufacturer Fincantieri, was handed over to the Indonesian government in stages.

KRI Brawijaya was handed over to the Indonesian Navy on July 2, 2025, and arrived in Indonesia in September 2025. Meanwhile, KRI Prabu Siliwangi was handed over in December 2025 and arrived in Indonesia in March 2026.

Currently, the two warships are deployed to support maritime defense under the Surabaya Fleet Command II.

2. KRI Belati-622

The warship was produced by the domestic shipbuilding company, PT Tesco Indomaritim, and was officially handed over to the Indonesian Navy on October 24, 2025.

KRI Belati-622 has become a symbol of modernization, as the 60-meter-long fast attack craft (KCR) features a unique advantage over other Indonesian Navy warships: a hybrid propulsion system.

The system combines water-jet propulsion and propellers, making the vessel more fuel-efficient while maintaining its power and performance.

Currently, KRI Belati-622 is deployed under the Fleet Command III in Sorong, Southwest Papua.

3. Anka-S Drones

One unit of Anka-S unmanned aircraft (drone) ordered by the Ministry of Defense from Turkey was received at Supadio Air Base, Pontianak, West Kalimantan, in September 2025.

This new drone belonging to the Indonesian Air Force has been deployed to monitor the air and sea areas in Natuna.

4. Airbus A400M Atlas

The Airbus A400M Atlas now holds the record as the largest transport aircraft in the Indonesian Air Force's fleet.

The two Airbus aircraft purchased by the Ministry of Defense arrived in November 2025 and March 2026.

The A400M aircraft is a large airlifter capable of transporting heavy loads, such as fuel trucks with a capacity of 80 tons and excavators. In addition, this aircraft can carry 116 fully armed personnel, or nine military pallets and 54 personnel simultaneously, as well as military vehicles such as Patriot launchers and HEMTT trucks.

The A400M is also capable of carrying out air-to-air refueling operations or refueling in the air.

Currently, the two aircraft have been deployed by the Indonesian Air Force on various missions, including aid delivery for earthquake victims in Sumatra and Aceh.

5. KRI Canopus-936

The Indonesian Navy's first rescue submarine, KRI Canopus-936, arrived in Indonesia on May 11, 2026.

KRI Canopus-936 is the result of collaboration between the German shipyard, Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R), and PT Palindo Marine. The Domestic Component Level (TKDN) on this ship reached 60 percent.

The vessel is equipped with various cutting-edge technologies, including the Hydrographic Survey Launcher (HSL), Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

"This equipment is used to carry out hydrographic, oceanographic, geophysical surveys and detailed mapping of the seabed," Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali informed.

Apart from monitoring underwater areas, KRI Canopus-936 is capable of conducting military operations such as mapping submarine routes, detecting sea mines, security patrols and maritime intelligence support.

Ali explained that KRI Canopus-936 is also capable of carrying out underwater search and rescue (SAR) missions, including detecting emergency signals and searching for objects on the seabed.

6. Rafale

This 4.5-generation fighter jet, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, France, was received by the Indonesian government in January and May 2026.

The aircraft has a length of 15.27 meters, a wingspan of 10.90 meters, and a height of 5.34 meters.

Rafale is capable of reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 and reaching an altitude of up to 50,000 feet.

This performance is supported by two Snecma M88 engines, each capable of producing up to 50 kN (kilonewtons) of thrust and 75 kN when using afterburner.

In addition, the aircraft can carry up to 9,500 kilograms of weapons on 14 hardpoints. The Indonesian government has ordered a total of 42 Rafale fighter jets, six of which have arrived in Indonesia, currently stationed at Air Squadron 12, Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base, Pekanbaru, Riau.

7. T-50i Golden Eagle

The Ministry of Defense purchased six T-50i fighter jets from South Korea to serve as advanced training aircraft and for combat operations.

Delivery of the six T-50i aircraft from South Korea took place on July 16, 2026.

Previously, the Indonesian Air Force operated the same type of aircraft as its combat training fleet. The existing T-50i Golden Eagles are stationed at Air Squadron 15, Iswahjudi Air Force Base, Magetan, East Java.

8. Dassault Falcon 8X

Manufactured by the same manufacturer as the Rafale, Dassault Aviation of France, this long-range business jet has a maximum range of up to 11,945 kilometers non-stop.

Powered by three Pratt & Whitney Canada PW307D engines, this aircraft, which can accommodate 13 to 16 passengers, can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 0.90.

The Indonesian Air Force received four of these aircraft in May 2026.

9. KRI Sriwijaya

The former Italian Navy aircraft carrier, now named KRI Sriwijaya-100, was officially received by the Indonesian government on September 24, 2026.

Acquired through a grant scheme, the ship measures 180.2 meters in length, with a waterline beam of 23.4 meters and a flight deck width of 30.4 meters. Its flight deck is spanning 173.8 meters long.

Its size allows the vessel to accommodate dozens of helicopters and drones.

The vessel is powered by a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) propulsion system comprising four FIAT/GE LM-2500 gas turbines. Together, the turbines generate approximately 60,400 kilowatts, or nearly 81,000 horsepower, driving two fixed-pitch propeller shafts.

With these engines, the ship is capable of reaching a maximum speed of approximately 30 knots (approximately 56 km/h) and has a cruising range of up to 7,000 nautical miles.

10. Mi-35M Helicopters

The Indonesian Army received two Russian-made Mi-35M combat helicopters in mid-2026.

Both helicopters officially began operating at the Semarang Army Aviation Center (Puspenerbad) base in early September 2026.

Although equipped with advanced combat capabilities and weaponry, the fleet will primarily serve logistical purposes in Papua, according to the Army.

11. AAV-M35 Amphibious Combat Vehicle

The Indonesian Navy Marine Corps officially received 12 new amphibious combat vehicles (AAVs) made in the United States, namely the AAV-7A1 or AAV-M35 variant, on September 28, 2026.

This AAV is the Marine Corps' most advanced amphibious vehicle, complementing the South Korean-made LVT-7 fleet already in service.

The vehicle can carry up to 24 personnel, comprising 21 passengers and three crew members: a driver, commander, and gunner.

The AAV can operate in Sea State 5 conditions, with wave heights ranging from 2.5 to 4 meters. The M35 designation refers to M for Marine, 3 for the number of crew members, and 5 for Sea State 5.

Equipped with tracked wheels for mobility on land, shore, and sea, the AAV-M35 is powered by a 525-horsepower Cummins V930 engine, allowing the vehicle to travel up to 15 km/h in water and 75 km/h on land.

Beyond its amphibious capabilities, the armored vehicle is also equipped with a 12.7-mm machine gun and a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher.

Advancing the domestic defense industry

While most of the defense equipment mentioned above is manufactured overseas, this does not reflect a lack of confidence in the quality and capabilities of Indonesia's domestic defense industry.

Instead, the government is using the momentum to improve the quality of locally produced defense equipment and develop human resources in the domestic defense industry through technology transfer (ToT) cooperation.

Such cooperation takes place when the Indonesian government and defense equipment manufacturers work together on the development and maintenance of the equipment.

One of the most highlighted initiatives is the retrofit of the KRI Sriwijaya-100's engines and technology by the state-owned shipyard company, PT PAL Indonesia, and Fincantieri.

PT PAL is preparing to modernize the KRI Sriwijaya-100 as a step to strengthen the national defense industry's capability in handling large and technologically complex warships.

"Ship modernization requires a comprehensive understanding of the actual condition of the platform, the characteristics of the installed systems, and the operational needs of the user. Therefore, the process must begin with a comprehensive assessment," PT PAL Indonesia President Director Kaharuddin Djenod said in Surabaya.

In this collaboration, PT PAL contributes to the construction, repair, maintenance, upkeep, and overhaul of the ship, as well as the modernization of various systems. Meanwhile, Fincantieri provides expertise as the original designer and builder of the ship.

Kaharuddin said the project would contribute to the development of the national defense industry by enhancing its capabilities and expertise, creating employment opportunities, and strengthening the industrial ecosystem through the mastery of large warship technology.

Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Head of the Public Relations and Defense Information Bureau at the Ministry of Defense, echoed this sentiment.

His office is deliberately involving domestic industries in the modernization of this aircraft carrier.

"This is expected to be an opportunity to enhance the capabilities and involvement of the national maritime defense industry," he remarked.

Rico said the collaboration would not only strengthen the Indonesian Navy as a user of defense equipment but also promote greater self-reliance in the domestic defense industry.

Greater industrial independence, he added, would boost production capacity, create more employment opportunities, and ultimately contribute to national economic growth.

However, he acknowledged that the benefits would not be realized immediately, as improving defense capabilities through collaborative schemes requires time and must be carried out gradually.

He therefore expressed hope that domestic defense companies would continue to improve their products and human resources through various forms of collaboration, helping to build a strong and sustainable defense industry ecosystem.

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