All About the 81st TNI Anniversary: Mahaputera Star for Military Figures and New Units and PDU

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Headquarters held a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the TNI at the Prima field, TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Monday (6/10/2026).

This year's celebration was markedly different from previous years.

The ceremony was simple, without parades or demonstrations of main weapon systems (alutsista).

This simplicity was a gesture of respect to the soldiers currently engaged in disaster relief efforts in several regions.

Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto as the Ceremony Commander

During this occasion, the Commander of Joint Defense Command III, Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto, led the 81st TNI anniversary ceremony.

In recent years, Lucky's military career has often been stationed in Papua.

From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Assistant Operations Chief of the 18th Kasuari Military Command and as the Head of the BIN Training Center (2022-2023).

In 2024, he returned to Papua with the mandate as the Commander of TNI Operations Habema.

In August 2025, Lucky was appointed as the Commander of the XXIV/Mandala Trikora Military Command, while simultaneously fulfilling his duties as the Commander of Operations Habema.

He was subsequently appointed as Commander of Joint Defense Command III in March 2026.

During his tenure as the Commander of TNI Operations Habema and Joint Defense Command III, Lucky has frequently announced the crackdown on armed groups of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

At that time, Lucky stated that OPM represents a common enemy that must be opposed due to their ongoing acts of terrorism and violence against civilians.

This statement followed the burning of a Pilatus aircraft owned by Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) and the shooting of its American pilot, Nicholas F. Goselin, at Ipdeheik Airport, Balinggama Village, Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, on Thursday (2/7/2026).

“Various terrorist acts have included intimidation, robbery, arson of schools, churches, and various public service facilities, rape of our women, as well as brutal massacres beyond the bounds of humanity,” said Lucky on July 3, 2026.

“(This) disregards values of tradition, religion, and divinity, which are perpetrated by TPNPB-OPM, and they are indeed a common enemy that we must oppose and stop,” he added.

Bintang Mahaputera

As part of the ceremonies, President Prabowo Subianto awarded the Mahaputera Star honor to seven military figures.

They include the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs in the 2025-2026 term, retired General Djamari Chaniago; Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin; TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto; and Vice TNI Commander General Tandyo Budi Revita.

Also honored were the Chief of Army Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali, and Chief of Air Staff.

The President's Military Secretary, Major General Wahyu Yudhayana, who read the presidential decree, stated that the awards were given based on various considerations.

“As an acknowledgment of their exceptional contributions to the progress, development, and construction of the TNI,” said Wahyu.

Djamari, Sjafrie, and Agus received the Mahaputera Adipurna honors, while Tandyo, Maruli, Ali, and Tonny were awarded the Mahaputera Adipradana.

Specifically, the narrator mentioned Djamari's efforts in coordinating ministries and institutions to realize national stability, Sjafrie's significant role in developing and enhancing Indonesia's defense capabilities, and Agus’s contributions to strengthening the TNI.

Furthermore, Tandyo Budi Revita was recognized for his role in ensuring TNI supports government programs, Maruli for enhancing the Indonesian Army's strength, Ali for strengthening the Indonesian Navy, and Tonny for developing the Indonesian Air Force.

204 New Units

Prabowo also inaugurated the establishment of 6 Military Regional Commands (Kodam) and 198 new units within the TNI.

"With the invocation of Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, on this morning, Monday, October 5, 2026, with the grace of the Almighty God, I, Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, hereby inaugurate 204 new TNI units,” said Prabowo.

The Army received the most new units compared to the other two branches.

Among them, the TNI AD has six new kodam, namely Kodam XXV/Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah in the Riau Islands, Kodam XXVI/Mataram in Yogyakarta Special Region, Kodam XXVII/Sobe Sonbai in East Nusa Tenggara, Kodam XXVIII/Moloku Kie Raha in North Maluku, Kodam XXIX/Mambruk in Central Papua, and Kodam XXX/Rinambora in West Nusa Tenggara.

“30 Territorial Infantry Brigades, 150 Territorial Infantry Battalions, 1 Cavalry Battalion, 1 Field Artillery Battalion, 1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion,” Prabowo stated, outlining the other new units in the TNI AD.

Meanwhile, there are 10 new units within the Indonesian Air Force.

“One Division II of the Corps Special Force, one Para Commando Brigade of the Corps Special Force, three Para Commando Battalions of the Corps Special Force, two Air Squadrons, two Radar Units, and one Training Squadron,” Prabowo elaborated.

In the Indonesian Navy, the President inaugurated five new units.

“One Marine Infantry Brigade, and four Marine Infantry Battalions,” he mentioned.

New PDU

The TNI also introduced new ceremonial uniforms (PDU) that were publicly showcased for the first time during the 81st TNI anniversary ceremony.

The TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto explained that the new PDU was designed with the philosophy of making the TNI more independent in terms of attire, and the design resembles the beskap traditional clothing.

"The philosophy is, we want to embrace culture. This is beskap, local wisdom, so we can be independent in terms of uniforms. It has a unique characteristic that the attire worn by the TNI culturally represents Indonesia—it is beskap," Agus said.

The new ceremonial uniforms for the Army, Air Force, and Navy have numerous differences compared to previous versions.

In the new ceremonial uniforms, there is no foldable collar or laid-back collar similar to a suit collar.

This collar model has been replaced with a design that encircles the neck directly.

On the collar, there is a gold stripe against a red fabric background.

A gold circular line also adorns the sleeves of the PDU.

Agus acknowledged that the new uniform resembles the military attire of North Korea.

He explained that military uniforms in Asian countries tend to have similar designs.

"Yes, in Asia, the uniforms are quite similar. Uniforms are almost the same in ASEAN and other countries. Even when I travel abroad, the uniforms are quite similar. Besides, we used to be from the same roots," Agus remarked.