JAKARTA - The Assistant Strategic Commander of the TNI, Marsda TNI Budhi Achmadi, emphasized that the ability to produce ammunition and propellant domestically is now a much more decisive factor than simply having the main tool of a modern weapons system (alutsista).
According to Budhi, the change in the character of war makes military power no longer measured only by the number of warships, fighter planes, or combat vehicles. What is more decisive is the ability to maintain a sustainable supply of ammunition, rockets, missiles, bombs, and energetic materials.
"Platforms are only a means of delivering combat power. The ability to win a war is ultimately determined by the availability of ammunition, propellant, bombs, rockets, missiles, and energetic materials on an ongoing basis," said Budhi, Sunday (5/7/2026).
He assessed that the attention of the government of President Prabowo Subianto to the development of propellant and ammunition industries was a strategic step to strengthen national defense independence in the midst of geopolitical dynamics and modern war changes.
Budhi said that many countries for decades have been able to produce military equipment, but still depend on imports of propellant, explosives, and ammunition. This dependence is only felt when a war, regional conflict, or embargo disrupts military logistics supplies.
According to the two-star general, the Russian-Ukrainian war is an important lesson. Thousands of tanks, artillery systems, drones, and combat vehicles can only operate if supported by large amounts of ammunition stocks. When ammunition supplies decrease, the intensity of military operations weakens.
"NATO countries then increased the production capacity of ammunition because they realized that modern wars were again industrial wars," he said.
Therefore, Indonesia is considered to need to build a defense industry that is not only oriented towards the production of platforms, but also mastering propellant technology, explosives, and ammunition as the core of combat power.
Budhi emphasized that defense independence is not enough to be realized through the construction of warships, fighter planes, combat vehicles, and electronic systems. The ability to produce propellants, ammunition, rockets, and missiles is actually the main foundation of the country's deterrent power.
He also invited the government, the TNI, the defense industry, universities, and research institutions to build a national energetic material ecosystem in an integrated manner, starting from the provision of strategic raw materials, propellant industries, military explosives, to the development of rocket and missile technology.
According to Budhi, strengthening the industry not only strengthens defense, but also encourages the advancement of chemical research, advanced materials, metallurgy, precision manufacturing, and national propulsion technology.
"The history of war proves that victory is not only determined by the sophistication of the platform. What determines it is the ability to maintain combat power through the continuous supply of ammunition and propellant. Therefore, the development of the propellant and ammunition industry is an important foundation for Indonesia's defense sovereignty," he said.
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