A new Cyber Force, which will become the fourth branch of Indonesian Military ( TNI), has been approved by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and President-elect Prabowo Subianto, giving the country the ability to “respond effectively to cyberattacks from abroad.”  ,
According to authorities, Mr. Prabowo’s receiving Cabinet will prioritize the new cybermilitary system, which will run alongside the Indonesian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Hadi Tjahjanto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, shared more details following a parliamentary meeting in Jakarta on Monday ( Sep 23 ). He said that it was crucial for Indonesia to stand up against international cyber threats.
Cyber war is a key focus in modern warfare, according to Mr. Hadi, underscoring the need for a dedicated, specialized defense unit to deal with virtual threats.  ,
The worst cyberattack in decades occurred in Indonesian government offices in June, causing disruption to immigration solutions and affecting aircraft operations for days. More than 40 government entities and important departments were among the targets.  ,
According to Mr. Hadi, “psychological activities will be conducted in the computer tree, influencing thoughts to ensure we can succeed in this new form of warfare,” adding that the new defense system is expected to carry out regular cyber patrols and implement safety measures.  ,
Mr Prabowo, who has had a powerful interest in digital safety improvements, has endorsed the program, Mr Hadi added.  ,
Different countries have currently made strides in establishing computer security, according to Mr. Jokowi. The Cyber and Information Domain Service of Germany, the Scandinavian Cyber Defence Force, the People’s Liberation Army Cyberspace Force in China, and the Digital and Intelligence Service in Singapore are just a few examples of them.  ,
Without adequate funding or defense equipment, Indonesia’s new cyber defense unit will show inadequate, according to officials, despite its significant step in the development of a new cybermilitary unit. During the legislative session in Jakarta, Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said,” It’s not enough to have a huge computer military force if they lack the necessary defense technology.” Without enough money, the Cyber Force will only have human resources and lack the tools to help them.
According to Mr. Lodewijk, digital defense equipment is much more advanced than traditional devices like mobile phones. ” This is n’t just about finding people, which is already challenging because we need specialists”, he said. ” The products they use is even more crucial”.  ,
He also warned that if Indonesia did n’t consistently engage in defense technology, it may fall behind other nations in the field of cyber security. ” If we do n’t allocate enough resources, our data will remain vulnerable”, Mr Lodewijk said, also stressing the importance of investing in satellite systems to bolster cyber defence.  ,
Mr. Lodewijk came to the conclusion that developing digital technology was expensive but needed, much like forming military special forces.  ,
” The equipment must be powerful, even if the team is little. He claimed that it’s better to have modern technology with fewer people than a big power without the necessary resources.  ,