Drone Tecnology Made in Indonesia

Drone technology is basically to attack, instead of supervision

In the past 10 years, interest in the American military for reconnaissance and defense technology devices has fueled the development of drones. Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Atomics and Lockheed Martin is a major manufacturing four drones. Japan and China began to glance at the drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to maintain both the bordering region.

Business Insider has reported that the market trend drones for military needs will reach US $ 8.2 trillion in 2022 later. In the report predicted that America will no longer dominate as consumers drones.

China and Russia will replace the US position. Even in terms of development, China and Russia will have the ability to rival the American drone over the next 10 years. Both countries have committed to invest so funds for research and technological development of drones, especially drones for military activities complete with weaponry.

Insufficient research funding makes the development of locally made Indonesia a floating drone. Of some drones owned, almost all in the form of prototypes. Although there are some who are ready to fly, but its infrastructure remains to be seen.

Puna

Indeed, research has been ongoing drone technology development in Indonesia since 2000. However, all aspects that accompany it makes the development of drones can not be done by certain institutions. Finally formed consortium involving PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI), National Electronic Institute (LEN), BPPT and LAPAN. Each organization, respectively have production functions, supply systems and electronic communication, and research development.

At the Institute of Aeronautics and Space Agency (Lapan), drones called LSU or Lapan Lapan Surveillance Unmanned (LSU) Aerial Vehicle. Similarly, the unmanned Aircraft (Puna) in BPPT. In addition to disaster monitoring, mapping the region, and national defense, drones or Puna could actually have the ability to be a tool of war in order to complement the military weaponry.

Observers Indonesian military weaponry, Haryo Ajie Nogoseno, said if the military currently has two types of UAV / Puna modern, Wulung and Heron, the work of the consortium. Wulung called a UAV is more attractive because of its adoption indicates a high jump for the independence of defense equipment in the country.

In fact, said Ajie, Indonesia will be the arrival of 12 Puna to be placed in the squadron air base Supadio, Pontianak this year. Although the 12 Puna, which consists of 8 and 4 Heron Wulung this, will be able to keep the defense of Indonesia, but still limited to monitoring the area. The Puna can not be used as a means of supporting weapons of war.

"Of course, more sophisticated Heron. Flying ability 350km continuously for 52 hours at a speed of 207 km / h. Heron worthy of being a drone reconnaissance. While Wulung has a range of 200km supported mobile ground station, is only possible for the observed data in realtime, "said the founder of this Indomiliter.com site.

If Wulung is locally made children of the nation, 4 Puna said as Israeli-made Heron Aerospace Institute (IAI). Therefore, further Ajie, Indonesia must master UAV technology.

"If we can master the UAV technology, it is not difficult if later Indonesia wants to develop a UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle), which is armed," he said.

Indonesia Not Need Drone?

Just like any other foreign country, can be used as a tool Puna border guards, especially Indonesia with a large area interspersed with several islands. So far, Indonesia has always mess around with boundaries and often clashed with Malaysia.

According to Military Observers, Muhadjir Effendi, drones function as a means of defense would be more appropriately used for military operations, particularly ground attack.

"In general, the function of the drones is to attack, not to catch lawbreakers. Drones will be more effective to monitor land border, "he said.

In the area surveillance activities, Mohammad Strikes, Head of the Air Matra Defense and Security Technology BPPT, predicts the ideal amount to be owned by Indonesia is around 15. But that number does not necessarily refer to the number of units of drones, but the number of bases to be constructed Puna. In each of the base was filled by at least 3 units Puna who worked continuously for 24 hours to conduct surveillance.

"Obviously with a large area such as Indonesia, perhaps even more. Ideally probably at least 15 bases to monitor the area comprehensively. 15 bases can be more or less depending on the sophistication of the technology," said Mohammad

However, he continued, for the moment, Indonesia requires a minimum of 3 bases in each area. The area, in particular is a common defense and security breaches.

Development Constraints Puna

In Indonesia, funds were minimal and pessimism Indonesian people to local products made UAV technology faltered. The government did not seem to care about the drone's technology. If the UAV just can not be made, do not ever expect to plan Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).

"Since 2004, the R & D program entry BPPT. Funds spent approximately 20 billion. If the number of drones to the TNI, those who know better. For the BPPT, as drones or Puna is a system that is ready to fly then there are 4 units. only 4 that has a complete system, "said Mohammad.

This figure is very much when compared with research funds are disbursed US drone. According to the website Singularityhub.com, Puna research funding for 2001 to 2013 and spent US $ 26 billion. If the calculated average per year, research funding is US $ 2.1 billion, or about Rp21 trillion.

Space agency, which makes Lapan Surveillance Unmanned (LSU) Aerial Vehicle, currently has developed a series of 05 which serves for mapping. Private institutions that conduct this research, said Head of Aviation Technology Lapan, Gunawan S. Prabowo, there are several such UAVindo and Proboaero in Bandung, while in Jakarta there are 5 other companies. Besides Wulung, BPPT is producing Sriti. Even within the next 5 years, BPPT will develop more sophisticated Puna of Wulung, named Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE).

"For the design of aircraft, 100 percent had our own. But for communication systems, control systems mash depending on the components of Europe and the United States," said Chief unmanned Aircraft Program (Puna) BPPT, Joko Purnomo.

For the cost of making it require expensive investments. One piece of drones is estimated to cost 300 million. As for the rental service drones, although cheap, but can not be applied to activities of state supervision. Likewise, the communication system. Although it could use a ground station, satellite technology is considered more qualified.

"If the lease is usually for civilian purposes but for military usually have their own. As an illustration, for a class photo shoot short range UAV, for plantations with only a few broad wiliayah, around Rp 10 million to Rp 30 million, depending on the agreement work," said Mohammad.

Therefore, he said, would be more beneficial if the research related to the drones continue to produce many Puna for many functions. The advantage is that, in addition to creating new jobs, homemade drones can also be customized as needed, even more state secrecy is assured.

"Economically it does not happen because the money flows of capital flight in our own country. The most important is the security of a state secret. Unlike all if we rent or buy from strangers. In addition we can also reduce the risk to the lives of pilots and operators," said Mohammad.

Dependence of foreign devices will provide its own concerns related to state security surveillance. That is, it is time for Indonesia to stop the 'addiction' foreign devices. Indonesia has the potential to develop a kind of drone technology. Resources are already qualified, just waiting for the seriousness of the government in terms of funding for the sake of national defense.