Indonesian police in the market for hi-tech Chinese equipment

Indonesia is considering buying hi-tech policing equipment from China, setting out a shopping list for technology ranging from drones to tactical armoured vehicles at a police equipment trade show in Beijing.

The Indonesian National Police is particularly interested in counterterrorism equipment, including intelligence technology, tactical weapons, bomb disposal gear and special purpose vehicles, according to a list of requirements released at a forum held at the expo on Thursday.

Most of this equipment would be used to support high-intensity operations by the force’s Anti Terror Special Detachment 88 and the Mobile Brigade Corps, which combats separatists and insurgents.

The police are also looking to buy intelligence and surveillance equipment, such as intercept and tracking systems, thermal imaging reconnaissance drones and bomb disposal robots.

The force is also looking to buy tactical armoured vehicles, assault rifles and protective gear such as helmets and bulletproof vests, but the list stressed that Indonesia prioritised domestic procurement.

A month later, Beijing transferred advanced drug detection equipment to Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency.