TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) and the Turkish Aerospace Industries have discussed their partnership to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
PT DI president director Elfien Guntoro said that the upcoming UAVs will be compared that owned by the United States called Predator.
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Elfien revealed that PT DI is currently developing a UAV that is produced by BPPT, which is similar to a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned vehicle.
Currently, PT DI and the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) are forming the framework agreement. TAI President and CEO Temel Kotil said that his aerospace industry developed Anka that has been used in several occasions, for instance, to fight terrorism in South Asia.
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“This product is already used by the Turkish army. The UAV is able to fly up to 20,000 feet and carry a 200-kilogram payload. It is also equipped with cameras and sensors,” said Kotil today in Bandung.
Dirgantara Indonesia Production Director Arie Wibowo said that one of the difficulties in developing a UAV is related to the fuselage composite technology. “TAI has mastered composite materials considering that they are the supplier for Airbus and fighter jets,” said Arie.
AHMAD FIKRI