Indonesia's priorities
Speaking at Türkiye's 103rd National Day celebration on Thursday evening, Yusuf said cooperation should help Indonesia strengthen its military capabilities and become more self-reliant. As deputy minister of defense for logistics, defense industry and technology, he emphasized lasting, practical results, including a stronger domestic defense industry.
"This cooperation is part of a joint effort to build robust, adaptive and sustainable defense capabilities, while enhancing the readiness of both countries to address future security challenges," Yusuf said.
He called for further initiatives that would deliver sustained benefits to both countries. Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia Talip Kucukcan pointed to the Badr Memorandum, signed in Doha, Qatar, on October 21, as a way to advance their partnership.
Tank, drone and fighter projects
The two countries already have defense manufacturing projects outside the Badr framework. Among them is the KAPLAN MT medium-weight tank, called Harimau in Indonesia, which FNSS of Türkiye and Indonesia's PT Pindad jointly designed and developed under an intergovernmental agreement.
According to Anadolu Agency, FNSS supplied prototypes and the first series-production tanks to Indonesian users. Manufacturing continues at PT Pindad through an arrangement that transfers technology to the Indonesian company.
Cooperation also covers unmanned combat aerial vehicles. The Diplomat reported that Indonesia's PT Republik Aero Digintara, or Republikorp, signed a joint venture with Baykar for the co-production and delivery of 60 TB-3 and nine Akıncı aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force.
A separate framework contract with Baykar, signed in May 2026, covers an initial 12 Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned combat aircraft, along with local production and maintenance facilities. It includes an option to produce up to 48 Kızılelmas locally.
The Diplomat also reported a 2025 implementation contract for 48 TAI Kaan fighter jets. Valued at a reported $10 billion, the agreement made Indonesia the aircraft's first international customer and provides for Turkish support with technology transfer, component assembly and local maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities. The Kaan first flew in February 2024 and is expected to enter service with the Turkish and Indonesian air forces in 2028.
How the Badr framework would work
The Badr Memorandum brings together Indonesia, Türkiye, Qatar and Pakistan to coordinate military production, expand economic opportunities and strengthen defense cooperation among friendly countries. Kucukcan described defense and security industry cooperation as central to the relationship between Indonesia and Türkiye.
The signatories included all four defense ministries, Pakistan's Defense Industrial Production Organization and the Presidency of Defense Industries, or SSB, under the Turkish Presidency. Qatar News Agency reported that other friendly countries could join under criteria agreed upon by the four participants. The name "Badr" means full moon and symbolizes the complementary roles of the four nations.
Kompas.id reported that two councils will oversee joint projects. The Executive Council will identify projects involving the four countries, while the Strategic Council will approve them and set their schedules, providing a structure for moving proposals toward operational capabilities.
Analysts cited by Kompas.id offered different perspectives on the arrangement. Arda Mevlutoglu of Mergen Analytical Strategies said it could signal "a network of interconnected defense and security arrangements, stretching from the Gulf region to South and Southeast Asia, rather than a single formal alliance."
IISS researcher Albert Vidal described a model in which Indonesia and Pakistan would buy Turkish weapons and undertake some production locally. In his assessment, that would lower costs for Turkish companies and generate jobs in the two purchasing countries, while Qatar would contribute financial capacity.
Türkiye's industry and export growth
Kompas.id reported that Turkish defense companies are expected to receive the largest share of Badr's joint projects. The report attributed that expectation to recent advances in Turkish defense systems and Türkiye's position as the country with NATO's second-largest armed forces.
Figures from Türkiye's Defense and Aerospace Industry Exporters' Association, reported by Anadolu Agency, put the sector's exports at approximately $54 billion from 2012 through the first nine months of 2026. More than $30 billion of that total came during 2023-2026.
Defense and aerospace exports increased 48 percent in 2025 from the previous year, exceeding $10 billion. The latest 12-month total passed $11 billion for the first time. Separately, SIPRI data cited in the same report showed a 122 percent increase in Turkish arms exports over the last five years, placing Türkiye 11th among the world's arms suppliers.
Diplomatic and educational ties
Kucukcan also highlighted cooperation beyond the defense sector. He cited the countries' work in the UN, OIC, G20 and MIKTA, and credited Indonesia's strong support with helping Türkiye obtain partnership dialogue status with ASEAN.
The ambassador said there was considerable room to expand economic, cultural, educational and trade ties. Nearly 6,000 Indonesians are pursuing higher education in Türkiye, he noted, while a Turkish community also lives in Indonesia.
