JAKARTA, INDONESIA — May 25, 2026 : The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) formally received its first two Thales Ground Master (GM) 403 long-range air surveillance radars during an official military ceremony at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base on May 18, 2026, attended by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The delivery marks an important stage in Indonesia’s broader effort to strengthen national airspace monitoring and defence infrastructure amid evolving regional security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
The radar systems were delivered under a multi-year procurement programme finalized in 2023 between Indonesia and French defence technology company Thales, under which the country ordered 13 units of the latest-generation GM403 tactical air surveillance radars. The programme is being implemented in partnership with Indonesian state-owned defence electronics manufacturer PT Len Industri. Deliveries of radar system components began in 2025, while the remaining 11 units are expected to be installed across Indonesia within the next 12 months.
GM403 Radar Capabilities and Airspace Integration
The GM403 is part of Thales’ Ground Master 400 Alpha family of mobile S-band 3D active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and incorporates Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology to enhance operational performance and reliability. Designed for long-range air surveillance and ground-controlled interception missions, the radar can track aerial targets at distances of up to 515 kilometres while simultaneously monitoring high-, medium-, and low-altitude threats.
The system is engineered to detect a broad range of airborne targets, including fighter aircraft, guided missiles, low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and hovering helicopters. To process large volumes of operational information in real time, the radar integrates artificial intelligence-enabled functions for target classification and threat assessment.
All 13 radar systems are being digitally integrated with Thales’ Air C4I SkyView command-and-control system, enabling sensor feeds from across Indonesia to be consolidated into a single 360-degree recognized air picture. The integration is intended to strengthen early warning functions, improve situational awareness, support interoperability between defence systems, and facilitate faster operational decision-making through automated threat response coordination.
Industrial Cooperation and Technology Transfer
Beyond equipment procurement, the programme includes technology transfer and industrial cooperation measures aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s domestic defence manufacturing base. Under the division of work, Thales is responsible for producing the radar cores, information-processing computer systems, and command-and-control software, while PT Len Industri manages local infrastructure development, civil works, radar station installation, and systems integration across the Indonesian archipelago.
PT Len Industri is also producing selected radar components domestically as part of the localization effort. The cooperation builds upon nearly five decades of collaboration between Thales and the Indonesian Armed Forces and supports Indonesia’s objective of increasing defence-sector self-reliance.
In November 2022, Thales and PT Len Industri launched a joint initiative to establish a local Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) centre of excellence in Indonesia. The facility is expected to support software upgrades, engineering assistance, hardware repairs, and long-term maintenance requirements close to operational users, reducing reliance on overseas support networks.
Broader Defence Modernization Effort
The radar delivery coincided with a display of newly acquired military platforms at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, highlighting Indonesia’s wider defence recapitalization programme. During the event, President Prabowo inspected six newly delivered Rafale fighter aircraft from Dassault Aviation, four Dassault Falcon 8X transport aircraft, and an Airbus A400M Atlas multi-role transport aircraft.
Addressing attendees, President Prabowo stated that Indonesia would continue strengthening defence capabilities to support deterrence and protect national sovereignty, emphasizing that the country’s objective remains safeguarding its territorial integrity.
Guy Bonassi, Senior Vice-President for Asia and Latin America at Thales, said Indonesia and France continue to benefit from a partnership that combines complementary industrial and technological strengths. He added that Thales remains committed to expanding local knowledge, industrial expertise, maintenance capabilities, and sovereign defence support in Indonesia.
The programme is also expected to create future opportunities for cooperation between Thales and PT Len Industri in sovereign command-and-control systems, naval combat management technologies, advanced radar systems, defence expertise transfer, and indigenous military satellite development. Indonesian authorities did not disclose the operational deployment locations of the first two radar systems or provide further production details beyond the planned 12-month delivery schedule for the remaining units.
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