Indonesia receives more ForceSHIELD air defense system with Starstreak missiles

 

A battery of ForceSHIELD air defense system arrives at KODAM I Bukit Barisan base in Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo c/o Defense Studies.

The Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) received a batch of Starstreak short range surface-to-air missiles as part of the Thales ForceSHIELD Air Defense System, with the new equipment received by the TNI-AD’s 1st Military Regional Command (KODAM I) Bukit Barisan on 2 October 2020.

The air defense system were supplied by Thales UK, as part of a deal worth £100 million (around US$160 million) signed in 2014 to supply 5 ForceSHIELD batteries to the TNI-AD.

With the new air defense system assigned with KODAM I Bukit Barisan, these are expected to be used to defend the airspace over Sumatra Island in Western Indonesia.

The Thales ForceSHIELD was designed to protect mobile units in the battlefield, or to defend convoys and supply lines in the combat area. The system is composed of the Thales Starstreak high velocity short range surface-to-air missile (SAM), the Thales CONTROLMaster 200 radar and weapon coordination system, the Next Generation Lightweight Multiple Launcher (LML) system for the Starstreak missiles, the RAPIDRanger or RAPIDRover mobile weapon systems, and associated communication and support systems.

The CONTROLMaster 200 radar is capable of detecting 200 targets simultaneously at ranger up to 250 kilometers. It incorporates the CONTROLView engagement control system, which evaluate threats, assign weapons and coordinates combat management.

Indonesia has selected the URO VAMTAC high mobility vehicle from Spain to be the platform for RAPIDRanger component.

It was unclear on the total of batteries already delivered by Thales UK to the TNI-AD.


[1] Defense Studies Defense Page
[2] Thales Group