Defence Minister: TNI's Weaponry and Ammunition Needs Beginning to Be Met

Batam (ANTARA) - Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ (TNI) needs for principal weapons systems (alutsista) and ammunition are beginning to be met, after the government strengthened the development of national defence capabilities.

Sjafrie made the remarks after reviewing an integrated three-service TNI exercise in Lingga Regency, Riau Islands, on Wednesday.

“I have seen for myself that the TNI’s combat strength, in terms of both weapons systems and the quality of management as well as ammunition needs from small to large calibres, has been fulfilled,” he said.

According to Sjafrie, the exercise results showed that the TNI is capable of meeting challenges in defending and securing the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, through both personnel readiness and combat equipment.

He said the situation differs from several years ago, when the TNI still faced various limitations, particularly in terms of weapons systems and ammunition availability.

Beyond assessing weapons readiness, Sjafrie said the training objectives set by the TNI were successfully achieved through the joint field exercise.

According to him, this achievement forms part of the revitalisation of national defence strength development that the government has continued to carry out throughout 2026.

Earlier, one of the exercise components tested air infiltration capabilities through a parachute drop by the Airborne Forward Operations Group (KDOL) around the drop zone at Dabo Singkep Airport, involving a CN-235 aircraft from the 27th Air Squadron based in Biak, the Rapid Reaction Forces Corps (Korpasgat), and the 328th Infantry Battalion.