TheIndonesian National Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (Indonesian:Badan Intelijen Strategis Tentara Nasional Indonesia), abbreviatedBAIS TNI, is a state institution that specifically handlesmilitary intelligence and is under the command of theIndonesian National Armed Forces headquarters. BAIS time-frames for actual and forecastedintelligence and strategy analysis for the future (short, medium, and long term) for theArmed Forces Commander and for theMinistry 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 ofSubandrio, which absorbed a lot ofPKI sympathists.[3]
At the beginning of theNew Order era, theMinistry 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 GeneralL.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 theKopkamtib Intelligence Task Force. This agency in theKopkamtib 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 onGalang Island.[4]
procuringHarpoon missiles on former Royal Dutch Navy warships.[4]
Negotiate withASEAN countries to refused ASEAN to provide weapons assistance to theKhmer 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 abbreviatedBIA). 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:
In 1986, in response to the challenges, BIA was changed toBAIS. 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 asBadan Intelijen Strategis Tentara Nasional Indonesia (shortenedBAIS TNI).
The leadership of BAIS reports directly to theCommander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Panglima TNI).[10] BAIS is led by a three-star general of the armed forces holding the titleKepala BAIS (Head of BAIS, abbreviated Ka BAIS), assisted by a two-star general serving asWakil Kepala BAIS (Deputy Head of BAIS, abbreviated Waka BAIS). As of 2025[update], 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]
A Directorate for Domestic Military Intelligence
B Directorate for Foreign Military Intelligence
C Directorate for Defense and Military Intelligence
D Directorate for Military Security Intelligence
E Directorate for Psychological Operations
F Directorate for Administration and Finance
G Directorate for Research and Production
H Directorate for Strategic Defense Potentials Intelligence
In 1997, BAIS carried out a counterintelligence operation in Jakarta that uncovered an AustralianASIS 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 andABC News (Australia) reported that Indonesian intelligence had long been aware of foreign spying and used theAustralia–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.[which?][22][21]
Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo
Major General Bosco Haryo Yunantok
