
Satellite imagery showing an Aerostar tactical UAV at Supadio Air Base near Pontianak, Indonesia. (Map data: Google, 2024 CNES/Airbus/2025 Janes)
Indonesia has based its fleet of Israeli-made Aerostar tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the Supadio Air Base in Pontianak, which is situated on the western end of Borneo island.
Janes analysis of a satellite image taken in March 2024 confirms that the UAVs are housed in a 26×20 m hangar sited about 200 m east of the midpoint of Runway 33.
Runway 33/15 is shared by the Supadio International Airport and the Supadio Air Base. It is also home to the Indonesian Air Force's Aviation Squadron 1, which operates a fleet of Hawk 109/209 aircraft.
This is the first known instance in which the presence of the UAV can be confirmed in a satellite image.
The Indonesian Air Force is believed to have been operating the Aerostar UAV for about a decade, given appearances of the equipment at non-public exhibitions held by the service since 2015.
Unauthorised photographs of the UAV on display at these exhibitions have occasionally appeared on social media pages but the Indonesian Air Force has never officially confirmed the existence of this equipment.
The service is believed to be operating a fleet of four Aerostar UAV units and the equipment are deployed by the Aviation Squadron 51 for communications intelligence and tactical surveillance operations.
With a wingspan of 8.7 m and a length of 4.5 m, the Aerostar UAV has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 240 kg and can carry payloads of up to 40 kg.
Propulsion is provided by a single rear-mounted propeller, and the UAV can attain a top speed of 100 kt with a maximum endurance of 12 hours.
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