TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the country will continue strengthening its defense capabilities during a military equipment handover ceremony in Jakarta on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Speaking at the event held at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta, Prabowo said Indonesia would continue to build up its defense capacity to safeguard national sovereignty across air, sea, and land domains.
“In the near future, we will continue to build our strength. We want to secure our airspace, our maritime territory, and of course our land territory,” Prabowo told reporters.
He said the expansion of defense assets is part of Indonesia’s long-term military modernization program, which began during his tenure as defense minister from 2019 to 2024.
The equipment handed over to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) includes six Dassault Rafale multirole combat aircraft produced by Dassault Aviation, four Falcon 8X aircraft, one Airbus A400M Atlas Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, the GM403 Ground Control Interception radar system, as well as the Hammer smart weapons system and Meteor missiles.
Prabowo said a strong defense system is essential to maintaining national stability and sovereignty, particularly amid rising global geopolitical tensions.
“We see the condition of the world, geopolitics full of uncertainty. Defense is a fundamental requirement for stability and a guarantee of sovereignty,” he said.
According to Indonesia’s Government Communications Office, the Rafale jets are expected to enhance the country’s air combat capabilities in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. The Falcon 8X aircraft will support strategic mobility and surveillance missions.
Meanwhile, the A400M MRTT is designed to improve long-range logistical transport and aerial refueling capacity, while the GM403 radar system strengthens early warning and airspace monitoring to support national air defense sovereignty.
Read: Prabowo Hands Over New Rafale Fighter Jets, Falcon 8X to TNI
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