Thales has delivered the first two Ground Master (GM) 403 long-range air surveillance radars to the Indonesian Air Force at Halim Air Base in Jakarta.
Indonesia ordered 13 GM403 radars in 2023 to expand national air surveillance coverage across its territory.
Another 11 systems are scheduled for delivery within the next 12 months.
The GM403 is a long-range three-dimensional air surveillance radar designed for early warning and airspace monitoring.
Integrated with Thales’ SkyView air command-and-control system, the radars will provide a unified operational air picture and real-time tracking of potential aerial threats.
Indonesia’s dispersed archipelagic geography creates significant challenges for continuous airspace monitoring and integrated air defense coordination across a vast territory.
Once all systems are in place, the network will expand surveillance coverage across key air approaches and improve the military’s ability to detect potential threats earlier.
Local Integration and Air Defense Expansion
Indonesia has increasingly tied major defense purchases to local industrial participation and technology transfer.
The program is being executed with Indonesian state-owned defense company PT Len Industri, which will support local integration and long-term sustainment.
Previous cooperation between Thales and PT Len includes a joint venture established to support Indonesia’s air surveillance requirements.
The partnership has also been positioned for potential expansion into electronic warfare, military satellite capabilities, national data links, and combat management systems.
“By building up local knowledge and expertise, strengthening industrial capabilities and ensuring maintenance and support close to the end-users, we are committed to driving Indonesia’s sovereign defence ambitions,” stated Guy Bonassi, Senior VP for Asia and Latin America at Thales.