Indonesia has revised its timetable on the Elang Hitam (Black Eagle) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and now wants to achieve its goal of developing it as an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) by 2022.
The UAV, which is currently in development, is scheduled to have its first flight in January 2021.The original plan was to introduce an unarmed reconnaissance UAV and then start work in 2022 on developing it into an UCAV by 2024. President Joko Widodo’s comments in February this year, that the UCAV will be developed by 2022, indicate that Elang Hitam will be developed directly as a full combat-capable UCAV that will launch a precision strike with guided munitions.
In order to accelerate the development of Elang Hitam into an UCAV, the Indonesian government is looking for weapon systems that will be carried by Elang Hitam, even as development of the UAV continues. Media reports indicate that Indonesia is interested in smart ammunition from Turkey’s Roketsan corporation. The company produces two variants of MAM laser guided glide bomb – the MAM-C with High Explosive (HE) warhead, and the thermobaric warhead MAM-L. The possibility of Elang Hitam carrying other guided rocket types, such as CIRIT from Roketsan, also cannot be discounted.
The locally designed and manufactured Elang Hitam UAV, a Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) drone, is being developed by Konsorsium Pesawat Terbang Tanpa Awak (PTTA – Unmanned Aircraft Consortium). The PTTA consortium was established in 2017 and consists of Research and Development Agency (Balitbang) and Directorate General of Defense Potential (Pothan) under the Indonesian Defense Ministry, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN – joined in 2019) and two state owned enterprises: PTDI and PT Lembaga Elektronika Nasional Industri (PT Len Industri – National Electronic Institute Industry).
Work on the Elang Hitam UAV started in started in 2015 following an agreement between the Research and Development department of the Indonesian Defense Ministry and the Indonesian Air Force. Two models of the UAV were used in wind tunnel tests, the first in 2016 and then in 2018.
On Dec. 30, 2019, inside a hangar located within the PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) complex in Bandung, the consortium unveiled its prototype of the UAV. There are five development stages – Elang Hitam 1 to 5 (EH-1 to EH-5). The development of the UCAV will take place in stages EH-4 and EH-5.
Lockheed Martin has delivered the first of eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the Ohio Youngstown Air Reserve Station,…
Challenge Group has announced the appointment of Eyjolfur (Eyvi) Vestmann Ingolfsson as its new Head of Materials and Logistics, aimed…
SATS Airport Services Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SATS Ltd (SATS), SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC), and Changi Airport…
INJAZ Al-Arab, a Jordan-based non-profit education and training organisation and a member of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide, has partnered with…
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) officially accepted the delivery of its initial pair of AT-6TH Wolverine turboprop aircraft in…
TransNusa is set to become the first foreign airline to operate from Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport, commonly known as Subang…
SATS Ltd, a Singapore-based provider of air cargo handling services and food solutions, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding…
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has chosen the Swedish-manufactured SAAB JAS 39E/F Gripen over the American Lockheed Martin F-16…
Batik Air Malaysia has unveiled two new routes from Kuala Lumpur to Thailand, with Hat Yai and Krabi being the…
Boeing and Emirates SkyCargo have announced an order for five additional 777 freighters. The purchase takes Emirates' order book to 245…
Boeing aircraft will be conspicuous by their near-total absence from the show, but the American OEM is expected to walk…
Eve Air Mobility will provide an update on key program milestones, including its first full-scale prototype, at the Farnborough Air…
Boeing, which is not bringing any of its commercial jets to this year's Farnborough Airshow, will instead focus on highlighting…
Gulfstream Aerospace has appointed Smitha Hariharan as vice president and chief sustainability officer, effective immediately. In the newly created role,…
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been upgraded to an 'A' credit rating by S&P Global Ratings, with a stable outlook.…
Qantas will likely use a North Pole route to achieve its Project Sunrise Sydney to London nonstop with the A350-1000…
Fincantieri marked an important milestone with the launch of the seventh PPA (Multipurpose Combat Ship), named "Domenico Millelire," at the…
Sierra Space Corporation, in collaboration with Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Kanematsu Corporation, and Oita Prefecture, has announced the inclusion of…
The Malaysian Army has recently announced a tender inviting local companies to supply and deliver 800 M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon…
China has proposed supplying the Type 052D destroyer to the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) as part of a broader effort…
Following the recent signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, reports suggest that the Philippines…
The U.S. military has awarded SRC, Inc. a contract worth USD 25 million to develop the Long-Range Radar, a large…
Australia’s largest international air combat training exercise, Exercise Pitch Black, is set to take place from 12 July to 2…
The Spanish space launcher company, PLD Space, has secured a EUR31.2 million syndicated loan with Banco Santander, EBN Banco, and…
Malaysia Airlines’ inaugural A330neo has been unveiled in Toulouse, proudly displaying the airline’s distinctive Malaysia flag livery. This milestone marks…
IFS, a Sweden-based provider of cloud and industrial AI software, has announced the acquisition of EmpowerMX - an AI-powered aviation…
The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) launched two new Dorang-class patrol vessels in Serang, Banten province, on Friday (Jul. 12). Constructed…
Vietjet, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos, has announced a new agreement aimed at…
China Southern Airlines (CSN) and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) have expanded their codeshare flights to encompass three new routes: Guangzhou-Penang, Kuala…
Saudi Arabia has ordered four additional Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Royal Saudi Arabia Air…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.