TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – A locally-made 'Unmanned Aerial Vehicle', also known as drone, is ready to operate in Indonesia's border areas. The drone, crafted by the Indonesia Maritime Institute (IMI), will be used for surveillance purposes.
"If the state entrusts us, we are ready to mass-produce this unmanned aircraft," IMI executive director Y Paonganan said on Tuesday, May 19, Antara reported.
The drone is called OS-Wifanusa. The aircraft flew smoothly when taken for a test in Jatiluhur, West Java earlier today.
The OS-Wifanusa has the ability to take off and land on waters as well. Its two-stroke, 170-cc engine is capable of lifting its 70-kilogram body easily to fly five hours or around 200 kilometers. The drone uses Pertamax as fuel.
Paonganan said the unmanned aircraft is targeted for state-use, particularly military surveillance purposes, to help control Indonesian areas.
If the government decides to use the drone for state purposes and requires it to meet military specifications, IMI is ready to make the necessary changes it takes to meet these standards.
ANTARA | RR