Indonesia’s Dirgantara Rolls Out New MALE Drone

Indonesian Aerospace rolled out its new PUNA medium altitude long endurance (MALE) drone on Monday.

It was developed by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), Air Force, ITB, Indonesian Aerospace (PT Dirgantara Indonesia), and PT LEN Persero.

“A mere 700-meter runway is required for take-off and landing of the MALE drone. It can attain altitudes of 20,000 feet and a maximum speed of 235 kmph. The drone is designed to fly for 30 hours," President Director of PT Dirgantara Indonesia Elfien Goentoro was quoted as saying by local media.

The PUNA is equipped with synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) technology to create two-dimensional images or three-dimensional reconstructions of objects, such as landscapes.

Preliminary tests of the MALE unmanned aerial vehicle is scheduled to begin in 2020. Two additional prototypes will be built next year for flight and structure endurance testing.

The company is aiming to obtain airworthiness certification for the drone in 2023.