Pindad, Safran Pursue Advancement of Smart Bomb for Rafale Jets

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad, in partnership with France’s Safran Electronics & Defense, plans to produce the MK-82 highly-agile modular munition extended range (HAMMER) smart bomb, which will be used for the Rafale fighter jets.

“The ability to develop products and also produce MK-82 that will be used for the Rafale is one of the factors why we partner with Safran, a highly-reputable defense manufacturer known for its smart-guided bombs,” said PT Pindad director of technology and development Sigit P. Santosa in a written statement on April 14. 

The Indonesian Air Force in February announced the acquisition of 42 Rafale fighter jets on February 10 this year. The signing of the contract was held in front of the French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly and Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Pindad is appointed as one of the lead integrators in the fighter jet’s purchase and abides by Law No.16/2012 which states that the defense industry’s lead integrator must be from a domestic entity. 

The fuselage and MK-2 smart bomb explosives will be produced by Pindad while Safran will provide the guidance kit. Partnerships will also be established in the field of optronics, control systems, and others that will be handled collectively. 

Santosa claimed that Safran is serious about establishing a partnership with Pindad to develop the MK-82 smart guided bomb. Delegates of Safran & Defense had also paid a visit to the PT Pindad factory in Bandung on Tuesday, April 12. 

Read: Pindad: From Military Weapons to Electric Vehicles

AHMAD FIKRI (CONTRIBUTOR)