Indonesia seeks foreign lenders for UCAV programmes

A Bayraktar TB2 UAV carrying Roketsan's MAM-L and smaller MAM-C laser-guided bombs. Indonesia has shown interest in acquiring similar UCAVs and weapons for its requirements and is seeking foreign lenders to finance the purchase. (Baykar)

The Indonesian Ministry of Finance (MoF) has approved a request from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to procure unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) with foreign loans, and the country is evaluating suitable lenders for this.

The UCAVs are part of a list of 16 programmes for the year for which permission to take on foreign loans has been granted by the MoF, provided that the formal contracts are signed with the Ministry of Defense (MoD) by 31 December 2023, documents provided to Janes indicate.

Approvals to procure the unmanned vehicles have been granted separately for each of the three armed services and include provision for UCAV-mounted munitions.

For the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU), the MoF has allowed a loan quantum of up to USD200 million to procure UCAVs and a limit of USD38.115 million for UCAV-mounted munitions.

There are no indications as to the type of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be acquired, but for the munition, the documents listed specifically that the TNI-AU should procure MAM-L lightweight smart missiles, in apparent reference to the Roketsan's line of small guided bombs that go by the same name.

For the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL), a loan quantum of up to USD100 million has been granted. The service has also been given permission to take on up to USD10.89 million to acquire UCAV-mounted munitions, and like the TNI-AU, these should be the MAM-L missiles.