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LAPAN to develop drone, rockets for Army
The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) and the Army signed an agreement on Tuesday to develop national defense technologies in a bid to reduce the import of military equipment
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he National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) andthe Army signed an agreement on Tuesday to develop national defensetechnologies in a bid to reduce the import of military equipment.
Among the technologies to be developed by LAPAN are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), missiles, rockets and remote sensing.
'LAPAN's capabilities are very useful and will benefit the Army. We will use the technologies for surveying and aerial mapping, geospatial intelligence and monitoring regional security,' said Army chief of staff Gen. Budiman during the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the force's headquarters in Jakarta.
He said that the Army had planned to utilize UAV technology for border surveillance.
The technologies would not only be useful for 'modern warfare' but also disaster relief efforts as well as to tackle smuggling and terrorism, Budiman added. 'The Army is expected to be the at the forefront in the efforts to tackle the so-called fourth-generation war in the region,' he said.
In the agreement, the Army has also agreed to disburse Rp 3.5 billion (US$288,445) to help finance LAPAN's research.
'Developing national defense and military technologies are also important to protect national intelligence,' he said.
LAPAN head Bambang Tedjakusuma said that the agency had already researched numerous technologies that could be developed to meet the Army's needs, such as precise missiles as well as an integrated remote sensing database, space science and atmosphere technology.
