Unhan: Defense Industry Needs Policy and Technology Synergy

Dosen Fakultas Teknologi Pertahanan Universitas Pertahanan (Unhan) Ade Muhammad menilai penguatan industri pertahanan nasional membutuhkan sinergi antara kebijakan pemerintah, pengembangan teknologi, sumber daya manusia, dan kapasitas industri dalam negeri.

The statement was made by Ade in response to the issue regarding the possible appointment of Republikorp CEO Norman Joesoef as Deputy Minister of Defense (Wamenhan) in the cabinet reshuffle in August 2026.

Ade in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday said that the appointment of the candidate for Minister of Defense was the authority of the President by considering the needs of the cabinet as well as the direction of national strategic policies.

"If the issue is true and later officially determined by the President, then I as his former lecturer will certainly feel very happy, proud, and give support. However, I still respect the constitutional process and the official decision of the government," said Ade.

According to him, defense development is currently facing rapid technological developments, therefore, defense policies need to consider developments such as artificial intelligence, cyber defense, unmanned systems, space technology, and dual-use technology that can be used for both civilian and defense purposes.

He assessed that the combination of the experience of the senior generation and the ideas of the younger generation could be one of the factors in building a defense policy that is adaptive to changes in the strategic environment.

In the context of the defense industry, Ade said that long-term development was not enough to be oriented only on the procurement of the main tools of the weapons system (alutsista), because industrial policies also needed to be directed at technology transfer, the development of national supply chains, the creation of high-tech jobs, and the improvement of domestic manufacturing capacity.

"Indonesia needs public officials who have a combination of innovation and persistence because the development of the defense industry is a long-term process that requires consistency across governments," he said.

Ade also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the national defense industry and international companies. According to him, cooperation can be directed not only to the purchase of defense products, but also to the establishment of cooperation, industrial investment, and technology development in the country.

He hopes that the transformation of the defense industry, including the strengthening of state-owned defense companies, can continue to be directed to be more professional, efficient, synergistic, and have clear performance indicators.

Ade emphasized that the success of policies in the field of defense is not solely measured by the ability to carry out procurement of defense equipment, but needs other aspects that need to be paid attention to are the development of an innovation ecosystem, the improvement of human resources, the strengthening of industry independence, and the ability to attract high-tech investment and technology to Indonesia.

With this approach, the defense industry is expected not only to play a role in meeting national defense needs, but also to have an impact on the development of technology, manufacturing, and the national economy.