Indonesia's Elang Hitam surveillance UAV makes maiden flight

A screen-grab from a PTDI video showing the maiden flight of its Elang Hitam UAV at West Java International Airport (BIJB) in Majalengka on 28 July. (PTDI)

Indonesian state-owned aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) announced on 29 July that its Elang Hitam (Black Eagle) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has made its maiden flight.

PTDI said the Elang Hitam medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV was tested at West Java International Airport (BIJB) in Majalengka on 28 July.

Elang Hitam is designed to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. It features an open and modular architecture to enable further developments based on mission requirements. Elang Hitam can currently fly for up to 24 hours at altitudes of up to 20,000 ft, PTDI added.

This UAV has been developed by a PTDI-led consortium that includes Indonesia's Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), and Bandung Institute of Technology. The development was supported by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Indonesian Air Force, PTDI added.

“The flight test serves as a proof of concept for mastering key technologies [incorporated in Elang Hitam], which include the system configuration design, automatic flight control system, and long-range communication system. This proof of concept serves as a basic reference for further development of MALE UAVs in line with national requirements,” Moh Arif Faisal, director of Commerce, Technology, and Development at PTDI, said.

During the test, a PTDI-owned Kodiak aircraft acted as the chase aircraft for Elang Hitam to monitor its performance and ensure flight safety, PTDI said. The tests will continue until the UAV obtains “official certification from the relevant authorities”, PTDI added.

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