Indonesia’s ANKA Drone Acquisition Announced in August 2023, But Contract with TAI Remains Inactive

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – In August 2023, it was reported by international media that Indonesia would acquire 12 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) ANKA drones manufactured by Türkiye, with six of the high-performance drones to be assembled domestically.

However, the latest reports from Indonesia reveal that the procurement contract for six ANKA drones between the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has yet to become effective.

TAI, the company responsible for developing the ANKA drones, is currently awaiting contract finalization.

Due to this issue, all procurement activities, technology transfers, and associated processes have been delayed pending the finalisation of the contract, despite the initial announcement in August 2023.

This was confirmed by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) Communications Manager Adi Prastowo in an interview with Indonesian media outlet TEMPO on January 5, 2025.

He stated that the contract remains inactive due to payment-related matters.

“The contract will become effective once payments are made, which are currently being processed, including bank guarantees for financing,” he explained.

Adi expressed optimism that the contract would be finalized in the near future.

Cooperation between PTDI and TAI will only commence once the agreement between the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and TAI is officially activated.

As part of the offset program under the procurement contract, TAI will transfer technology to PTDI. The offset program is divided into three components:

1. Establishing a Final Assembly Line and Flight Line for six ANKA units.

2. Building PTDI’s capabilities in ANKA maintenance, production, and operations.

3. Providing training for engineers, test flight personnel, and the development of a UAV Center.

Indonesia’s announcement of the 12 ANKA drone acquisition came shortly after Malaysia signed a deal to procure three ANKA drones during LIMA 2023 in Langkawi in May 2023.

Of the 12 drones, six are expected to be assembled in Indonesia, while the remaining six will be directly procured from TAI’s facilities in Türkiye as complety build-up (CBU).

The acquisition is reportedly financed through foreign loans.

Separately, on October 17, 2024, Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan visited TAI’s facilities in Ankara, Türkiye, to oversee the progress of Malaysia’s ANKA Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), which is expected to be delivered by late 2025.

Malaysia’s contract with TAI, signed during LIMA 2023, includes three ANKA-S drones equipped to monitor the country’s resource-rich Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.

The ANKA-S variant for Malaysia will feature advanced maritime radar with superior capabilities compared to those used by the Turkish Air Force.

“It’s a long-range maritime radar capable of detecting various threats, including different types of ships and frigates. It will also be equipped with Electro-Optic/Infrared (EO/IR) cameras,” a TAI official told Defence Security Asia during LIMA 2023.

The ANKA-S drones will be stationed at the RMAF base in Labuan, serving as the nation’s “eyes and ears” over the South China Sea. Additionally, they will be equipped with a Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), a new feature integrated with air traffic management systems.

“TCAS allows the ANKA-S to operate safely over a range of 1,000 km, and depending on its configuration, the drone can remain airborne for up to 30 hours to perform various missions and operations,” the official added.

Malaysia is the first country in the region to adopt the combat-proven ANKA MALE UAS.

The acquisition underscores the strategic importance of enhancing surveillance capabilities, particularly in the South China Sea.

Former Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan highlighted the need for comprehensive surveillance capabilities, emphasizing the importance of having the means to “see and hear” activities in the nation’s waters.

“The three MALE drones we are acquiring will be deployed to the South China Sea. We must have the ability to monitor up to 350 km from our shores,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of knowing what happens in the South China Sea before it unfolds.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA