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It is time for Indonesia to focus on drone warfare
Drones represent the forefront of modern warfare, overshadowing conventional weaponry.
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Future weapon: Director of technology and development at state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia Gita Amperiawan talks to the media on March 13, 2020, in front of the prototype of the Indonesian Medium Altitude Long Endurance unmanned aerial vehicle at the company’s hangar. (Antara/Virna P Setyorini)
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ndonesian Navy chief of staff Adm. Muhammad Ali has outlined the country’s future development and procurement plans, which include the potential acquisition of Bayraktar Akinci and Anka drones from Turkey. The Defense Ministry has confirmed the proposal, emphasizing technology transfer to enable the local production of drones.
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) drones are planned to be manufactured in Indonesia through collaboration with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), which will significantly benefit the national defense industry.
These developments align with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo's emphasis on the importance of unmanned weapons systems in adapting and responding to technological advancements and disruptions. This message was underscored during his visit to the Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java, in January 2024, alongside Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.
Although drone technology has been developed since the Cold War, it gained prominence and fame during the latest Azerbaijan-Armenian conflict in 2020, where both surveillance and suicide drones produced by Turkey and Israel were utilized. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 further propelled the popularity of smaller drones, including commercial ones, which have been extensively used not only to target personnel but also to destroy armored vehicles, rendering the deployment of main battle tanks potentially obsolete.
These drones afforded Ukraine, the smaller force by size, a considerable advantage over the larger Russian forces, enabling them to sink multiple Russian Navy vessels, conduct deep strikes into Russian territory and inflict billions of dollars in damage to the Russian economy. Additionally, the presence of these drones had a psychological impact on ground troops, facing relentless attacks from smaller suicide drones.
Given the unfolding events, it is imperative to swiftly grasp unmanned technologies, especially for countries like Indonesia, which hold significant potential for their development, particularly for military application. A prime example is the Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Black Eagle Drone, unveiled for the first time on Dec. 30, 2019.
Despite being a priority under President Jokowi, the prospects of drone development have been uncertain. National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) chairman Laksana Tri Handoko in February 2023 expressed concern over the project's military objectives, citing potential boycotts Indonesia experienced in the past when developing a home-grown radar.
