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Ukraine’s Battlefield-Hardened Artillery Turns Heads at Jakarta Expo as Indonesia Seeks Modern Firepower
Indonesian military officials closely evaluated a suite of Ukrainian-made artillery, armoured vehicles, and electronic warfare systems among the displays of eleven Ukrainian defense firms.
These systems were showcased amid a rising global reputation earned through Ukraine’s ongoing battlefield success at the Indo Defence Expo & Forum in Jakarta (11–14 June 2025), according to ArmyRecognition on June 16.
Ukrainian Land Forces’ 2S22 Bohdana self‑propelled howitzer, the BTR‑4 armoured personnel carrier, MP-120 mortar, and Kvertus electronic warfare suite all attracted attention from the Indonesian Defense Ministry delegation.
Their interest aligns with Indonesia’s broader efforts to diversify its arsenal, already engaged in multiple agreements for French-made Caesar systems.
At the expo, Ukrainian Defense Industry’s CEO Serhii Honcharov stressed the importance of countering Russian military exports through greater international presence. Indonesian officials reportedly view these systems—especially artillery, EW, and drones—as relevant assets for modernizing their own forces.
Indonesia’s defense minister Prabowo Subianto has been active in forging such international ties—both in acquiring arms and formulating strategic positions on war in Ukraine.
His ministry issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) on 13 June with French defense firm KNDS for additional Caesar 155 mm self‑propelled guns, accompanied by ammunition, technology transfer, and local production plans with PT Pindad.
Meanwhile, Ukraine introduced the AI-controlled Sky Sentinel autonomous air-defense turret, capable of detecting, tracking, and shooting down Shahed drones and cruise missiles with heavy machine‑gun fire—no human aiming required.
First combat-deployed, the system successfully intercepted four Shahed drones during trials. Each unit costs around $150,000, and production is being scaled up.
