The Indonesian military purchases Bayraktar TB2 drones to bolster defences.

 

On August 1, 2024, the Indonesian Air Force, led by Marshal Mohammad Tonny Harjono, the Chief of Staff, revealed the proposal to purchase Bayraktar TB2 drones at a meeting held in the East Jakarta neighbourhood of Halim Perdanakusuma. This choice was made in response to Harjono's recent visit to Baykar Technology in Istanbul, Turkey, where he evaluated the drones' performance and appropriateness for use in military operations in Indonesia.

 The tactical armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system, known as the Bayraktar TB2, is created and produced by Baykar. Its integrated design consists of the UAV platform, sophisticated base modules, ground control station, and ground data terminal. It is possible to carry out armed attack missions as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions with this Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drone.

The Bayraktar TB2's triple redundant avionics system enables fully autonomous takeoff, landing, and taxiing. With more than 200,000 operational flight hours since its launch in 2014, the Turkish Armed Forces, Gendarmerie, and National Police extensively utilise the Bayraktar TB2. There are 110 units in operation in Turkey at the moment, and the system holds the records for height (27,030 feet) and endurance (27 hours 3 minutes) in Turkish aviation history.

With an endurance of up to 27 hours, the Bayraktar TB2 is remarkable for its operational altitude of 18,000 feet and service ceiling of 27,000 feet. It can carry 150 kg of cargo, including four laser-guided smart munitions for battle and EO/IR/LD ISR radars or a multi-mode AESA radar, and has a LOS communication range. Its top speed is 120 knots.

Advanced characteristics of the drone include several redundancy in sensors and systems, autonomous navigation without GPS, and fully automatic flight control. It has proven to be effective at neutralising radars, armoured vehicles, air defence systems, and other military targets in war zones in Syria, Libya, and Karabakh. Additionally, the Bayraktar TB2 has been deployed to nations like Azerbaijan, Libya, Qatar, and the Ukraine, demonstrating its efficacy in a range of operational environments.

Harjono declared that the Bayraktar type 2 drone—a UAV with MALE capabilities as well as LOS and BILOS functions—will be acquired by the Indonesian Air Force. Harjono claims that these drones are ideal for monitoring and reconnaissance tasks, giving Indonesia's current air defence systems a major edge.

The choice to purchase the Bayraktar drones was made on June 29, 2024, when Harjono visited Baykar Technology. He and his delegation investigated cutting-edge drone technology and artificial intelligence applications that are crucial to contemporary military operations during their tour. The drone technology of Baykar Technologies, which is renowned for creating state-of-the-art Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems, was thoroughly demonstrated, with a flying demonstration of the Bayraktar Akinci that displayed multiple technological simulations.

Along with evaluating the drones' capabilities, Harjono spoke with Turkish Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadolu about enhancing air defence cooperation. The objective of these talks was to improve Indonesia-Turkey military ties on a bilateral basis by means of cooperative training exercises, educational exchanges, and information sharing about cutting edge weapon systems technology.

Despite not providing precise information on the quantity of Bayraktar drones to be acquired or the estimated time of delivery, Harjono conveyed his belief that this purchase will greatly bolster Indonesia's military might in the age of advanced weaponry. The CH-4 and Anka drones now in use by the Indonesian Air Force are anticipated to be enhanced and complemented by the new drones.

Drones are mostly needed in Indonesia for three reasons. First, surveillance and reconnaissance: keeping an eye on the archipelago's extensive borders is difficult due to its more than 17,000 islands, but drones can assist in spotting illicit activities like drug trafficking and illegal fishing. Second, for national security, where drones can be useful in addressing both foreign and internal dangers, especially in the South China Sea. Last but not least, the purchase of drones contributes to efforts to modernise the armed forces while also fostering international collaboration, particularly through the alliance with Turkey, which facilitates the transfer of cutting-edge technologies and fortifies bilateral ties.

Source armyrecognition.com