Indonesia Acquires Advanced New Radar for Air Defence
President Prabowo Subianto attended the handover ceremony for strategic national defence equipment (alutsista) organised by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta. This initiative represents a crucial step in the modernisation of national defence and the strengthening of Indonesia’s air defence systems.
During the event, PT Len Industri (Persero) handed over a Ground Control Intercept (GCI) Radar, marking a significant contribution from the national defence industry towards enhancing the surveillance and control of Indonesian airspace. The handover was led by the President Director of PT Len Industri (Persero), Joga Dharma Setiawan, accompanied by the Director of Business and Cooperation, Irwan Ibrahim.
In his address, President Prabowo stated that the addition of this defence equipment is a strategic move to bolster national defence capabilities as a deterrent. “We want to ensure that the security of Indonesia’s airspace, maritime, and land territories remains well-protected. A strong defence is a primary requirement for maintaining national stability and sovereignty,” Prabowo remarked.
Joga Dharma Setiawan, President Director of PT Len Industri (Persero), noted that the delivery of the GCI Radar is a tangible manifestation of Len’s commitment to supporting a modern and integrated national air defence system. “This GCI Radar not only strengthens national airspace surveillance capabilities but also demonstrates the domestic industry’s ability to master strategic defence technologies. Len is committed to continuously supporting the interoperability of the national defence system through the development of reliable and sustainable technology,” he said.
The GCI Radar delivered is the second of a total of 13 radars intended to bolster the national air surveillance system. This radar plays a vital role in supporting early detection, interception control, and integrated airspace monitoring.
In addition to the radar enhancement, the procurement of Rafale fighter jets provides opportunities for Len to improve communication interoperability and data link capabilities through the Rafale offset training programme. Previously, Len’s Link ID capabilities were focused on communication between warships and surveillance aircraft. Moving forward, these capabilities will expand to support data links between fighter jets, thereby strengthening the overall integration of the national air defence system.
Alongside the GCI Radar and Rafale jets, the handover of strategic national defence equipment also included several other platforms, such as the A400M MRTT, Falcon 8X, Meteor, and Hammer. The presence of these various defence assets is part of Indonesia’s strategic steps to enhance national defence operational readiness in the face of future global threat dynamics.