Indonesian troops boost anti-drone border surveillance
Lieutenant Colonel Andy Qomarudin, commander of the Indonesia-Malaysia Border Security Task Force from the Army Strategic Reserve Command, said the training was designed to improve troop readiness against evolving technology-based threats.
“The personnel must maintain preparedness in facing threats in operational areas,” Andy said in Entikong, a major border crossing point between Indonesia and Malaysia on Kalimantan island.
Speaking in Entikong on Saturday, he said mastery of drone surveillance and counter-drone technology had become increasingly important amid the growing use of unmanned aerial systems in security-related activities along border regions.
The training program in Entikong involved technical instructors from the Army Communications and Electronics Center and focused on early detection, aerial threat identification and counter-drone response measures applicable in field operations.
A total of 24 core task force personnel participated in simulations and case studies tailored to the geographical conditions and operational characteristics of West Kalimantan’s border areas.
Andy said similar exercises were also strengthened in the coastal area of Temajuk Beach to improve surveillance capabilities across maritime and coastal border sectors.
West Kalimantan’s border region has long faced complex security challenges, including illegal crossing routes, smuggling activities and potential cross-border espionage operations, according to Indonesian military officials.
Authorities believe drone technology could be exploited for illicit activities if surveillance and preventive measures are not strengthened in vulnerable frontier zones.
Through expanded anti-drone capabilities, the Indonesian Army aims to reinforce border security systems by integrating aerial monitoring methods that are difficult to achieve through conventional ground patrols alone.
The initiative also forms part of broader efforts to modernize border security operations and safeguard national sovereignty along the Indonesia-Malaysia frontier, particularly in West Kalimantan, Andy said.
Indonesia has increased military and security monitoring in several border regions in recent years as authorities seek to combat smuggling, illegal migration and transnational crimes across remote land and maritime boundaries.
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Translator: Rendra O, Rahmad Nasution