He said that President-elect Prabowo Subianto will also pay attention to the formation of the cyber force after assuming office.
"This cyber force aims to fight in the war of minds. It is how we can influence to win this kind of war," Tjahjanto added after a working meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Monday.
He also described cyberattacks as a form of modern warfare.
"Cyber branch (is prepared) for us to deal with cyberattacks from outside, from non-state actors. In today's modern battle, our center of gravity is now cyber warfare," he said.
He informed that cyber warfare includes proxy wars and propaganda.
"This cyber war requires how we deal with proxy wars, asymmetric wars, and then there are propaganda wars," he said.
He added that adequate system equipment is needed to ward off cyberattacks during cyber wars.
"A unit is needed to (conduct) patrols every day, then carry out a series of mitigations," Tjahjanto informed.
Indonesia, he said, faced cyber warfare during its conflict with East Timor in the past.
"I remind you that during the conflict of East Timor, we also carried out cyber warfare, but at that time, we had not prepared for these cyber wars," he added.
On September 12, 2024, President Widodo handed over the plan to form the TNI cyber force to the next government, which will be led by President-elect Subianto.
"I think all countries will go in that direction (to form a cyber force). However, let the new government plan it," Widodo said at the Presidential Palace in national capital city (IKN) Nusantara.
According to him, a military cyber force is important since other countries have begun to plan and set up such forces.
"It is very good, and I see other countries have already started; four countries have developed their fourth branch, the cyber force," he pointed out.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira Khalida, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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