Story ID: 105
Indonesia Launches Domestically-built Armed UAV Program
By: Chen Chuanren
Caption: Indonesia’s first large UAV is due to fly for the first time this year, with production planned to get under way in 2024.
Word Count: 284
State-owned Indonesian aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) unveiled a domestically developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on December 30. Designed to meet the requirements of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU), the UAV bears a strong resemblance to the Chinese CASC CH-4, which is in operation with the TNI-AU in small numbers. The vehicle, which is capable of carrying missiles, has yet to be named but is referred to as the Pesawat Udara Nir Awak jenis Medium Altitude Long Endurance (PUNA MALE, unmanned MALE aircraft).

Due to make its first flight in 2020, the UAV measures 8.65 meters (28.4 feet) in length, has a wingspan of 16 meters, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,300 kg (2,866 pounds), with a payload of 300 kg. With a fuel capacity of 420 liters (111 gallons) for its four-stroke turbocharged Rotax engine, the UAV can stay aloft for up to 30 hours, with a ceiling of 7,200 meters (23,600 feet).

Indonesia's Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the Defense Ministry, TNI-AU, the Bandung Institute of Technology, PTDI, and PT Len Industri began development of the first prototype in 2016, and four more prototypes will be built for certification purposes, with production planned to start in 2024. A second airframe is due to begin structural tests with BPPT in 2020. The PUNA MALE team plans to acquire commercial off-the-shelf products such as landing gear and flight control systems. However, local companies such as PT Len are developing indigenous systems, including a flight control system. 

An illustration shown by PT DI of the final prototype (PM5) depicts two unspecified missiles mounted under the single-spar wings, while the program timeline suggests that local industry is also developing armament to be ready by 2024.
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