Indonesia Plans TO Buy Armed Drones from China

Indonesia is planning to buy six drones from China that can detect, identify and attack.

The government is looking for a drone manufacturer which sells quality drone at affordable price and offers transfer of technology to help the country achieve self-reliance in defense industry, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu was quoted as saying by Antara News Wednesday.

"We will buy (drones) in small number and later develop them. Tomorrow, I will ask a drone manufacturer to come here to demonstrate its drones. As such, we will see which one is good," he remarked.

The Chief of the Defense Facilities Board Rear Admiral Leonardi said the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) needs drones with aircraft qualifications which can detect, identify, and attack groud targets.

He added that the government plans to buy six drones with three batteries.

"Only China can sell drones to us and the others cannot. We have explored (to buy drones) under G-to-G scheme, with their specifications from the TNI AU," he said.

Indonesia has started developing a large medium altitude long endurance (MALE) military drone that it plans to test in 2019.

China's military drones have been one of its big defence export succeses as the US and its European allies severely restrict who they can sell drones to.

Chinese military drones have been purchased by Saudi Arabia, Jordan and several other countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.