2024-04-30 11:58:10
jakarta: The Indonesian Air Force (IDAF) has announced its plans to use beyond visual range (BVR) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). IDAF Chief Air Marshal Mohd Tony Harjono announced the move at the Aerospace Field in Bantul Yogyakarta. He has also revealed plans to acquire Chinese-made CH-4 and Turkish-origin ANKA and Bayraktar drones. It is not yet clear which versions of the ANKA and BIKER unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) Indonesia plans to purchase.
According to the Eurasian Times report, the Indonesian Air Force is going to use Chinese and Turkish UCAVs as well as develop indigenous drones for air-to-air weapons. Indonesia is also pursuing a techno-military concept much like Turkey’s, attempting to advance anti-air warfare with drones. Indonesian Air Force chief Harjono said there will be a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to improve the national weapons system. The unmanned aircraft will use satellite technology to support beyond-visual-range (BVR) or long-range air combat. He said that we can operate it from outside the area we want to monitor.
Will use drones for air-to-air combat
Indonesia’s Air Force Chief said that these modern drones are part of new defense equipment aircraft being imported to strengthen the capabilities of the Indonesian Air Force. As a part of its modernization process the IDAF plans to procure 42 Dassault Rafale fighter jets by 2026. Apart from this, they also plan to acquire Airbus A400M transport aircraft, Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and tanker or multi-role tanker transport aircraft.
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According to Arms Trade, Indonesia is implementing a national project to develop a MALE-class attack UAV. It incorporates many design features of the CH-4. Indonesia is following Turkey’s efforts towards using drones for aerial warfare. Air-to-air missiles are intended to be capable of striking from a distance. This is different from aerial combat drones, which will require tight maneuverability and sophisticated intelligent decision making. This is within the scope of highly advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous flight control algorithms, which are still in the early stages of development in many countries.
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Indonesia had signed a contract with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) in 2019 to supply the ‘B’ version of the CH-4 (CH-4B). Currently it has a fleet of six drones. The first two CH-4s made their public debut in an October 2019 military parade. Janes said in a September 2021 report that UAVs were being used primarily for assessment and construction purposes. The CH-4 variant supplied to Indonesia has an operational range of between 1,500 km and 2,000 km. In April 2021, the country also received Chinese-made AR-2 air-to-surface missiles operated by the CH-4B.