Koopsus

The Special Operations Command (Komando Operasi Khusus), also known as Koopsus, is a special forces unit of the Indonesian National Armed Forces with counter-terrorism duties.

History
The Koopsus was established in 2015. At that time, this force consisted of 90 people who would serve in operational status.

Revisions to Indonesia’s anti-terror laws, which were passed in 2018, allowed the military to be formally involved in counter-terrorism operations. Until then, the Indonesian National Police’s elite wing, the Detachment 88 (Densus 88), had been the country’s lead security unit in pursuing terrorists. The Special Operations Command was established on 30 July 2019.

Organization
According to Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the Koopsus consists of 500 personnel drawn from the army, navy and air force. About 400 Koopsus personnel carry out preventive measures, including surveillance and intelligence, while the remaining 100 members are tasked with confronting terrorist acts.

Commander
The Koopsus is to be commanded by a two-star general officer, while the minimum position is a one-star general officer. Currently, Brigadier General Rochadi has been appointed on 30 July 2019 as the unit’s commander.

Mission
President of Indonesia Joko Widodo signed, on 3 July 2019, a presidential decree clarifying the military’s expanded role in counter-terrorism. Koopsus is to be coordinated with the Indonesian National Police in carrying out its mission of responding to high-intensity terror acts.

According the Decree, the Koopsus is in charge of conducting special operations and activities to safeguard the Indonesian national interests both at home and abroad.

Reactions
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Bambang Soesatyo, said he hoped that the formation of Koopsus would also strengthen the monitoring of cyberspace.

According to Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the establishment of the unit is an implementation of the 11 Priority Programs, a military program to deal with a spectrum of threats.