Indonesian Defence Ministry Strengthens Sovereignty and Army Modernisation Through Battle-Proven French Technology
Singapore — The Indonesian Ministry of Defence (Kemhan) has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accelerating the Indonesian Army’s (TNI AD) combat capabilities with battle-proven technology.
The commitment was underscored by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Tri Budi Utomo, during a visit to the booth of KNDS, a leading French defence manufacturer, at the Singapore Airshow 2026.
The Singapore Airshow 2026 has become a focal point for Asian defence technology. Amidst thousands of exhibitors, KNDS emerged as a major attraction, showcasing its elite portfolio.
In addition to the legendary CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzer, KNDS also displayed the latest generation of the Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank (MBT) along with various cutting-edge ammunition lines.
The Indonesian delegation directly inspected the readiness of ammunition technology on display at the event, encompassing 120mm, 155mm, and 105mm calibres — vital components in the modern land defence ecosystem.
“The Singapore Airshow is a strategic platform for KNDS to demonstrate that land defence, particularly artillery and large-calibre ammunition, remains a vital element, especially in Southeast Asia,” said Thomas Gerard, Chief of Representative for KNDS in Indonesia.
He further emphasised that “technology such as CAESAR is designed to address the dynamic military challenges of Southeast Asia, which demand a high degree of flexibility.”
The meeting at the KNDS booth served as a crucial moment to discuss CAESAR and large-calibre 120mm and 155mm ammunition that will be produced by PT Pindad as a follow-up to the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed by the defence ministries of both Indonesia and France in May 2025.
KNDS expressed its readiness and commitment to continue the agreement between the Indonesian and French governments to enhance the combat readiness of the Indonesian Army.
“The primary focus of this meeting is the realisation of procurement for an additional batch of CAESAR artillery, along with all necessary supporting equipment, artillery ammunition, and related localisation. This step is taken to ensure that the new units can be seamlessly integrated with the systems currently operated by the Indonesian Army,” said Thomas Gerard.
For the Indonesian Army, the Camion Équipé d’un Système d’Artillerie (CAESAR) has been part of its strike force since 2012. Indonesia is currently the largest operator of the CAESAR system in Southeast Asia and the third largest in the world.