Indonesia can enhance its defense self-sufficiency by partnering with Turkey to develop precision-guided munitions.

Indonesia faces a significant challenge in its defense industry: a lack of domestic production capacity for precision-guided munitions. While the country has made strides in arms manufacturing, it remains heavily reliant on imports—an Achilles’ heel in any potential conflict scenario where global supply chains could be disrupted.

Turkey, by contrast, has built a robust defense industry capable of designing and producing advanced rockets and missiles. With a thriving arms sector and a growing global footprint, Turkey’s success offers a model Indonesia can follow. The burgeoning defense ties between Ankara and Jakarta present an opportunity for Indonesia to cut costs, reduce dependency on foreign suppliers, and generate skilled jobs through a more self-sufficient domestic defense industry.

A Strategic Vulnerability in Indonesia’s Defense Capabilities

Global geopolitical tensions have grown increasingly volatile in recent years. For Indonesia, logistical challenges in acquiring modern munitions could prove disastrous in a conflict. The country’s inability to produce smart weapons—such as guided missiles, precision rockets, and advanced bombs—raises serious concerns about its military preparedness. In an armed confrontation, a lack of these capabilities could cripple Indonesia’s ability to sustain prolonged operations, leaving it vulnerable.

To understand the extent of this gap, consider the production capabilities of Indonesia’s state-owned defense manufacturers. PT Dahana and PT Sari Bahari, key players in explosive and ordnance manufacturing, report an annual output of approximately 6,000 unguided bombs. Meanwhile, PT Dirgantara Indonesia has produced 43,000 unguided Folding Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR) since 1985, with a current capacity of 5,000 per year. These figures highlight a reliance on outdated ordnance while underscoring the glaring absence of modern smart munitions in Indonesia’s arsenal.

As a result, Indonesia remains heavily dependent on imports to fill this gap. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), between January and May 2023, the country imported 438.38 tons of defense equipment—including bombs, grenades, and ammunition—amounting to $27 million. This made it the second-largest defense import category, trailing only weapon systems. Such dependence is a liability, especially in an era of shifting alliances and unpredictable global trade disruptions.

Turkey’s Proven Model for Defense Self-Sufficiency

Given these vulnerabilities, deepening defense cooperation with Turkey is not just a strategic choice—it is a necessity. Turkey has successfully built a modern defense industry capable of producing cutting-edge weapons systems, including advanced precision-guided munitions. Notable examples include the ATMACA cruise missile, the Khan and TRG missile systems, and the LGK and TOLUN guided bombs—each designed for both domestic use and international export.

Turkey’s defense industry has experienced a meteoric rise. Defense exports surged from $5.5 billion in 2023 to $7.1 billion in 2024, a testament to the country’s investment in indigenous weapons development. In 2025 alone, Ankara plans to allocate $4.5 billion to bolster its defense sector further, ensuring continued innovation and self-sufficiency.

This track record makes Turkey a reliable partner for Indonesia. The two nations have already demonstrated successful collaboration, most notably with the co-development of a modern medium tank in 2017. Expanding this partnership to smart munitions production would offer Indonesia a viable path to reducing its reliance on imports while accelerating its technological capabilities.

A Defense Partnership with Strategic and Geopolitical Benefits

A defense manufacturing partnership with Turkey offers Indonesia more than just technological know-how. It also presents a lower geopolitical risk. Unlike other major defense exporters that are entangled in deep political alliances, Turkey maintains balanced relationships with both Western and Eastern powers. This makes Ankara an ideal partner for Jakarta, which seeks to strengthen its military capabilities without being drawn into great-power rivalries.

Indonesia can learn from Turkey’s model by prioritizing investment in local research and development. By establishing joint ventures and leveraging technology transfers, Jakarta can enhance its capacity to produce precision-guided munitions domestically. This vision aligns closely with President Prabowo Subianto’s ambition to build a self-sufficient defense industry—one that reduces reliance on costly imports while ensuring national security.

Recent developments indicate that this vision is already taking shape. During President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Indonesia in February, Turkish defense manufacturers Baykar and Roketsan signed strategic agreements with Indonesia’s Republikorp. A key component of this deal is the creation of a joint venture between Roketsan and Republikorp to manufacture sophisticated guided missile systems, including anti-ship cruise missiles and multi-platform precision weapons. The agreement is designed to facilitate technology transfers and enhance Indonesia’s domestic defense industry.

The Path to Self-Reliance in Smart Munitions

These developments represent a turning point for Indonesia. While the country’s defense industry has experience producing conventional ordnance, upgrading to smart munitions requires substantial investment in research, infrastructure, and workforce training. However, this transition is far less daunting than developing an entirely new weapons industry from scratch.

With continued investment and strategic partnerships, Indonesia can achieve self-sufficiency in precision-guided munitions. By capitalizing on its existing expertise and expanding collaboration with Turkey, Jakarta can close the gap in its defense capabilities—ensuring that its military is equipped with the modern weapons needed to safeguard its sovereignty.

In the long run, strengthening defense ties with Turkey is more than a pragmatic choice—it is a strategic imperative. A self-reliant Indonesia, armed with homegrown precision munitions, would be better positioned to navigate the uncertainties of an increasingly unstable global security landscape.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of any institutions with which the authors are associated.