RI and India Explore Opportunities for Defense Industry Cooperation

RI considers India to be one of the countries whose defense industry is developing rapidly.

KOMPAS/ NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

The Director General of Defense Potential at the Ministry of Defense, Major General Piek Budyakto, together with the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, posed together while attending the India-Indonesia Defence Industry Exhibition cum Seminar in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — India and Indonesia are starting to explore opportunities for cooperation in the field of industry defense. Apart from meeting the needs for the main weapons system, strategic partnerships are also considered important to encourage independence and progress in the defense industry in each country.

The exploration of cooperation is marked by the holding of the India-Indonesia Defence Industry Exhibition cum Seminar in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/4/2024). The event was attended by at least 50 companies from Indonesia and India. Of the 36 companies, they exhibited their products, such as missile technology, military personnel equipment, and information technology systems. From Indonesia, several companies working in the defense industry were present, including PT Pindad (Persero) and PT Infoglobal Teknologi Semesta.

Director-General of Defense Potential of the Defense Ministry Major General Piek Budyakto stated that they are currently pushing for domestic defense industries, both state-owned and private, to establish strategic partnerships with foreign companies. Therefore, when the government purchases main weapons systems (alutsista) from foreign defense equipment companies, Indonesia can obtain optimal benefits.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Indonesian Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subianto inspected domestically-made combat vehicles on display outside the Ahmad Yani Hall of Military Headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta, on Wednesday (28/2/2024).

"To attain independence in the defense industry, we must be able to absorb technology from abroad. Frankly speaking, we need to continue improving our human resources in order to transfer technology," said Piek.

According to Piek, achieving independence in the defense industry is not easy. It takes a long time and effort to increase human resource capacity. Nevertheless, Piek claimed that the defense industry in Indonesia can now fulfill up to 40 percent of local content.

According to Piek, the fulfillment of local content is achieved gradually. On one hand, the increase in local content requires the support of the military to prioritize domestic products in meeting its needs. On the other hand, it becomes an opportunity for the domestic defense industry to fulfill those needs.

To achieve independence in the defense industry, we must be able to absorb technology that exists abroad.

Regarding the event, according to Piek, India is considered to be one of the countries with rapidly growing defense industries. The defense industry in Indonesia is expected to take advantage of the opportunity to collaborate.

"The policy in imports should benefit us. If we buy goods from foreign countries, we should be able to obtain technology transfer and receive training," said Piek.

Equality

Regarding that matter, Piek emphasized that cooperation with foreign industries must be based on equality. Indonesia and India are considered to have a long history, including mutual assistance during the struggle for independence. This can be a meeting point for further cooperation.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Several combat vehicles and field vehicles that are part of the Indonesian-made main equipment system of the TNI (National Armed Forces) were showcased outside the Ahmad Yani hall of the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta, on Wednesday (28/2/2024).

On that occasion, Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty said that the military of India and Indonesia have similarities, namely when they gained independence, they both received a variety of weapon remnants from other countries. Similarly, over time, both countries also seek to improve their defense by buying weapons from other countries. However, this is considered unsustainable.

Therefore, according to Chakravorty, India is currently focusing on strengthening its industrial capabilities and domestic defense designs despite various challenges. One of the efforts being made is to encourage private companies to collaborate with the world's leading industries and build a defense industrial ecosystem.

"We want to share our experience with Indonesia and collaborate for the long term, such as for airplanes, submarines, satellites, and cyber technology," he said.

KOMPAS/ NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

The Director General of Defense Potential at the Ministry of Defense, Major General Piek Budyakto, along with Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Sandeep Chakravorty, are currently reviewing the India-Indonesia Defense Industry Exhibition cum Seminar held in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/4/2024).

Additional Secretary of the Department of Defence Production in India, T Natarajan, added that the defense industry in India is working to develop its products to meet global standards. Currently, according to Natarajan, the defense industry in India has formed an ecosystem, ranging from small and medium industries that support larger military industries.

Meanwhile, the defense industry in India is open to foreign investment. "We have the same challenges and opportunities," he said.