The Indonesian Cyber Force (Indonesian: Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Siber) is a proposed future branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI). It will be the Cyberwarfare arm of the TNI. The formation of the branch was ordered by the President Joko Widodo on 3 September 2024 and currently in preparation by the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, General Agus Subiyanto.[1]
Once fully established, Indonesian Cyber Force will become the fourth branch of the TNI,[2] restoring the number of TNI branches to four. Previously, during the New Order era, the Indonesian National Police, served as the fourth branch of the TNI until its separation in 2000.
History
editOn 7 August 2023, National Resilience Institute Governor Andi Widjajanto advised the government to establish a cyber force to reform and modernize the armed forces.[3] This call was renewed on 18 September 2023, in response to cyberattacks by actors from four countries that posed significant disadvantages to Indonesia.[4]
The need for a cyber force was raised again following a serious hack of the National Data Centers in 2024, which resulted in a ransomware infestation affecting the centers.[5]
On 16 August 2024, Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Bambang Soesatyo, emphasized the need for the formation of a Cyber Force to address cyberattacks. He referenced similar units that already exist in other countries, such as Cyber and Electromagnetic Command (Malaysia), Digital and Intelligence Service (Singapore), and United States Cyber Command (USA).[6]
Before the formation of the Indonesian Cyber Force, National Cyber and Crypto Agency served as Indonesia's primary civilian cyber defense agency.[3][7][8] On the military side, the TNI had several cyber units, including the Indonesian National Armed Forces Cyber Unit, Army Cyber Unit, Navy Cyber Unit, and Air Forces Cyber Unit. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense operated its own Center for Cyber Defense under the Defense Information and Communication Agency.[9][10]
On 3 September 2024, President Joko Widodo instructed General Agus Subiyanto to establish the Indonesian Cyber Force.[11] The following day, on 4 September 2024,Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto also affirmed the formation of the branch, highlighting the increasing threats posed by future unconventional and digital warfare.[12] On the same day, General Agus Subiyanto said that the branch will be semi-military in nature due to will prioritize the recruitment of civilian cyber operatives and experts, rather looking for cyber-aware military human resources.[13] The decision is taken since TNI human resources mainly are conventional combat based.[14]
On 6 September 2024, the law makers realized that addition of another branch of TNI will require not only formation of the law related to the Cyber Force and revising pre-existing Law of the Armed Forces. The formation of the Cyber Force also will need a constitutional amendment as well due to the number and names of the TNI branches had already mentioned explicitly in the constitution.[15][16]
References
edit- ^ "Jokowi Perintahkan Panglima TNI Bentuk Angkatan Siber". tirto.id (in Indonesian). 3 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Naibaho, Rumondang. "Menko Polhukam: Angkatan Siber Sangat Penting, Jadi Matra Ke-4 TNI". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ a b "BSSN Dukung Penuh Rencana Pembentukan TNI Angkatan Siber". Kompas. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Alasan Lemhannas Getol Usulkan Pembentukan Angkatan Siber di TNI". Kompas. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Vindia, Barri Zilhaq. "Pusat Data Nasional Sempat Terserang Ransomware, BSSN Dorong TNI Bangun Pasukan Siber - Zona Jakarta". Zona Jakarta (in Indonesian). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Bamsoet: Sudah Saatnya Indonesia Bentuk Matra Ke-4 TNI Angkatan Siber". Kompas (in Indonesian). 16 August 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Borneonews.co.id. "BSSN Dukung Pembentukan Angkatan Siber sebagai Matra Keempat TNI". www.borneonews.co.id. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "BSSN Dukung Pembentukan TNI Angkatan Siber". kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Diperintah Presiden untuk Membentuk Angkatan Siber, Panglima TNI Masih Evaluasi Satuan Siber yang Sudah Ada". Jawa Pos. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Nurdiansyah, Hendra (2023). RESPONS ANCAMAN SIBER OLEH PERTAHANAN SIBER INDONESIA DITINJAU BERDASARKAN TALLINN MANUAL 2.0. National Defense University of Indonesia. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Borneonews.co.id. "Panglima TNI Umumkan Pembentukan Angkatan Siber di TNI". www.borneonews.co.id. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ Media, Kompas Cyber (4 September 2024). "Wacana Bentuk Angkatan Siber, Menko Polhukam Sebut Pertahanan Konvensional Tak Cukup". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Panglima Sebut Angkatan Siber Bakal Rekrut Banyak Warga Sipil". Kompas. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Pakar Nilai Rencana TNI Rekrut Sipil untuk Angkatan Siber Sudah Tepat". Pos-kupang.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Hidayat, Mohammad Arief (6 September 2024). "Pembahasan UU Angkatan Siber TNI Harus Libatkan Masyarakat, Kata Pengamat". www.viva.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Written explicitly in Article 30 Verse 3 Constitution of Indonesia: Tentara Nasional Indonesia terdiri atas Angkatan Darat, Angkatan Laut dan Angkatan Udara sebagai alat negara bertugas mempertahankan, melindungi, dan memelihara keutuhan dan kedaulatan negara. (Indonesian National Armed Forces consisted of the Indonesian Army, Indonesian Navy, and Indonesian Air Forces as state apparatuses that tasked to defends, protects, and maintains the national integrity and sovereignty).