Page 28 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 Online Magazine

made it harder to detect and to counter by its
targets, the first prototype of this radar has
been put on several tests by both the Indonesian
Ministry of Defense and Kohanudnas between
mid-2020 to early-2021. While the results of [ REPORT ]
the tests have shown that the detection range
of the first prototype was still limited to about
70 km, plans have been made to improve its
maximum detection range further. Currently,
there’s still no further publicly available informa-
tion about this project although it was rumored
that depending on the results of the improve-
ments, the system may be put on production
within the next few years.
Sea/Surveillance Radar) in 2009. The radar has attracted attention In the same year when the first prototype of
from Indonesian maritime authorities as well as the Indonesian a mobile passive radar system above was
Navy (TNI-AL) partly due to its ability to be mounted on trucks to revealed, PT Len Industri, the Indonesian
become a mobile radar system. state-owned enterprise in electronics R&D,
also introduced its S-200 air defence radar
With a somewhat modest maximum detection range of 64 km, both with a 200 km maximum detection range. While
static and mobile ISRa versions were designed as a coastal radar still limited to 2D radar technology (range and
system to provide a medium-range maritime monitoring capability bearing), it’s worth noting that PT Len also
at some of the busiest Indonesian sea lanes. Unfortunately, due to has collaboration agreements with several
some secrecy, while it has been reported that the radar has entered European defence companies for joint devel-
production as early as 2012, as well as a further improvement to opment and production of 3D radars which will
its antenna carried out by LIPI in 2016, the Sunda strait is the only also be helpful to improve its own design.
known location that is being monitored by the ISRa system until
now. It’s likely that the result of its collaboration with
these European companies has enabled PT
Growing in Confidence Len Industri to start developing its own Ground
PT LAPI ITB and the Research and Development Agency of the Control Intercept (GCI) radar with a 450 km max-
Indonesian Ministry of Defense (Balitbang Kemhan), joined hands imum detection range. This project - which also
in 2017 to research and develop a mobile passive radar system for involves several other Indonesian private and
the Indonesian National Air Defense Command (Kohanudnas) and state-owned defense companies - is expected
the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU). The result of their collaboration to be revealed publicly in 2024. Moving forward,
was revealed in the Indo Defence Expo in 2018 with the introduction PT Len Industri has also announced last July
of their first mobile passive radar prototype. that the company has been appointed by the
Indonesian government as the lead integrator
With a main advantage of not having to transmit radar signals which for all related Indonesian defense companies
into a “National Radar Industry & Innovation
Center”. This move was intended to coordinate
all domestic radar research, development and
production efforts under one roof in the future.

Not to be left out, the Indonesian Army (TNI-
AD) has also introduced its own mobile
Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) system this
month. Developed by the TNI-AD’s Field
Artillery Branch Centre (PussenArmed) and PT
Eletroteknika Utama ITB (PT EU ITB), the radar
is designed to locate the location of enemy
artillery and mortar fire with a 20 km maxi-
mum detection range. The Indonesian Army is
likely to equip all of its artillery battalions with
this radar although further details regarding
its full capability, planned improvements and
projected quantity to be produced are still cur-
rently unknown.

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