Updated 5 October 2025

Indo Defence 2025

Indo Defence 2024 was finally held from 11-14 June 2025 in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, after a stuttering series of postponements. Originally scheduled for November last year, organisers reset it for early this year at the behest of the new President Prabowo Subianto. The date was then changed again to the midyear slot for reasons unknown. Anyway, this stop-start organisation is the kind of shambles that one better associates with Indian exhibitions of relatively recent memory. Such vagueness and inconvenience to exhibitors and attendees does nothing to create a professional atmosphere, when dates change at the drop of a hat.

Regardless, King Arthur’s Writes was in attendance at Indo Defence this year, even though it has been a number of years since we have been able to attend. This is because Indo Defence events usually clash with the Zhuahai Airshow in China. The size of the Jakarta exhibition therefore impressed, as it has grown considerably in size and scope over the years. Foreign companies – from the likes of the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Turkey, the UAE and USA – are keen to grab a slice of the Indonesian defence market pie. Turkey in particular is doing very well in the Southeast Asian country’s market, with a number of deals for the likes of Aselsan and Roketsan.

The Indonesian defence sector is dominated by state-owned entities such as PT PAL and PT Dirgantara. However, there is considerable development and maturity in the private sector too, with Republikorp and SSE being just a couple of pertinent examples. The one thing that does not change about Indonesia is its propensity to buy from whomever and whenever it likes. Whatever tickles its fancy at the time – or at least those in authority – results in esoteric and often illogical purchases that do nothing to contribute to commonality and ease of operation for the Indonesian Armed Forces.