Indonesian Strategic Intelligence Agency

The Indonesian National Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (Indonesian: Badan Intelijen Strategis Tentara Nasional Indonesia), abbreviated BAIS TNI, is a state institution that specifically handles military intelligence and is under the command of the Indonesian National Armed Forces headquarters. BAIS time-frames for actual and forecasted intelligence and strategy analysis for the future (short, medium, and long term) for the Armed Forces Commander and for the Ministry of Defence.^[2]

BAIS started as the Army Psychological Center (Pusat Psikologi Angkatan Darat abbreviated PSiAD) belonging to the Army Headquarters (MBAD) to balance the Central Intelligence Bureau (Biro Pusat Intelijen abbreviated BPI) under the leadership of Subandrio, which absorbed a lot of PKI sympathists.^[3]

At the beginning of the New Order era, the Ministry of Defense and Security established the Strategic Intelligence Center (Pusat Intelijen Strategis abbreviated as Pusintelstrat) with PSiAD members being mostly liquidated into it.^[3]

Pusintelstrat is led by the Chairman of the Directorate of Defense and Security Brigadier General L.B. Moerdani. The position continued to be held until L.B. Moerdani became Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces. In this era, military intelligence had an operational intelligence agency but not part of Pusintelstrat called the Kopkamtib Intelligence Task Force. This agency in the Kopkamtib era played a full role as an Operational Intelligence Unit whose authority was very superior.^[3]

When Pusintelstrat was still the Indonesian national armed force intelligence agency, several operations that were known to have been carried out by Pusintelstrat:

• dealing and Surveillance with refugees from Vietnam who were accommodated on Galang Island.^[4]
• procuring Harpoon missiles on former Royal Dutch Navy warships.^[4]
• Negotiate with ASEAN countries to refused ASEAN to provide weapons assistance to the Khmer Rouge.^[4]

In 1980, the Pusintelstrat and the Kopkamtib Intelligence Task Force were merged into the ABRI Intelligence Agency (Badan Intelijen Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia abbreviated BIA). The BIA was commanded by the commander of ABRI, while operational duties of BIA are led by the Deputy Chief.^[3] "ABRI" was the name of the Armed Forces of Indonesia during the new order era.

several operations that were known to have been carried out by BIA:

• Operation Alpha, where BAIS negotiated with Israel and cooperated with MOSSAD to purchase 30 Douglas A-4 Skyhawk light combat aircraft from the Israeli Air Force.^[5]
• being involved in negotiations of Garuda Indonesian Airways Flight 206 plane hijacking.^[4]
• helped the escape of the DGSE agents who blew up the Rainbow Warrior ship.^[6]
• sent weapons and logistics to the Afghan mujahidin. The weapons sent consisted of several hundred AK-47 and several MILAN ATGM.^[7][8]

In 1986, in response to the challenges, BIA was changed to BAIS. This change had an impact on organizational restructuring which must be able to cover and analyze all aspects of the Strategic Defense, Security and National Development.^[3]

After a long process, finally in 1999 (post reformation) the institution was legally recognized as Badan Intelijen Strategis Tentara Nasional Indonesia (shortened BAIS TNI).

BAIS oversees Indonesian Defence attaches posted in various Indonesian diplomatic missions throughout the world.^[9]

The leadership of BAIS reports directly to the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Panglima TNI).^[10] BAIS is led by a three-star general of the armed forces holding the title Kepala BAIS (Head of BAIS, abbreviated Ka BAIS), assisted by a two-star general serving as Wakil Kepala BAIS (Deputy Head of BAIS, abbreviated Waka BAIS). As of 2025, the agency is headed by Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo,^[11] with Major General Bosco Haryo Yunanto serving as deputy head.^[12]

BAIS operates under a secretive structure. According to Presidential Decree No. 66/2019, BAIS consists of eight directorates, each designated by a single letter. Prior to 2023, only seven directorates had publicly known functions, as identified in 2016.^[13] The eighth unit, Directorate H, established in 2019, remained undisclosed until its function was reportedly identified in 2023.^[14][15]

1. A Directorate for Domestic Military Intelligence
2. B Directorate for Foreign Military Intelligence
3. C Directorate for Defense and Military Intelligence
4. D Directorate for Military Security Intelligence
5. E Directorate for Psychological Operations
6. F Directorate for Administration and Finance
7. G Directorate for Research and Production
8. H Directorate for Strategic Defense Potentials Intelligence

BAIS oversees several parental units known as Satuan Induk Badan Intelijen Strategis (Satinduk BAIS TNI). It is commanded by a Brigadier General.

1. Basic training
2. Secondary training
3. Strategic training

1. Investigation
2. Security
   • Materials / Assets
   • Personnel
   • News / Information
3. Raising / Coaching

• In 1997, BAIS carried out a counterintelligence operation in Jakarta that uncovered an Australian ASIS officer and an Indonesian military intelligence officer during a planned document handover, both unaware they were under surveillance. The Australian, who was operating under diplomatic cover, was quickly expelled once identified, while one account claims the Indonesian officer was executed, which angered parts of the military.^[16]
• In 1998, José Ramos-Horta alleged that Indonesian intelligence was spying on East Timorese exiles abroad.^[17]
• In 1999, Australian intelligence suspected BAIS had recruited a Canberra official with access to sensitive information, but the case was never solved.^{[18][19][20][21]}
• In 2013, Tempo and ABC News (Australia) reported that Indonesian intelligence had long been aware of foreign spying and used the Australia–Indonesia spying scandal to gain leverage. Between 2000 and 2013, BIN, BAIS, and Indonesian police were said to have run counterintelligence operations that exposed and disrupted foreign agents, often expelling them discreetly while exploiting the incidents to strengthen Indonesia’s position. ^[22][21]

• Indonesian State Intelligence Agency (BIN)
• Military intelligence
• Clandestine operation
• Government of Indonesia
• Indonesian National Armed Forces