Opened on 5 October 1972, it is located on 5.6 hectares (14 acres) of land in South Jakarta and holds numerous artifacts, weapons, and vehicles.

The museum is located on Gatot Soebroto Street in West Kuningan, Mampang, South Jakarta, and sits on 5.6 hectares (14 acres) of land;[1][2][3] the exhibitions are divided amongst three buildings and the grounds.

[5] After 1968,[6] the head of the Indonesian Armed Forces' history branch, Nugroho Notosusanto, conceived a modern museum showcasing the military's role in Indonesia's development.

Although development continued until 1979, the museum was formally opened by President Suharto on Armed Forces Day, 5 October 1972.

After a series of protests by conservative Muslim groups were brought down by military force, such as the 1984 Tanjung Priok massacre, Suharto's New Order government gave more emphasis to Pancasila education; Waspada Purbawisesa played that role in Satriamandala.

[15] Waspada Purbawisesa, a five-story pentagon-shaped museum[13] houses dioramas and artifacts from military conflicts against Islamic groups, both conservative and extremist.