Indonesia will acquire Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV to enhance the maritime and naval air capabilities of the Island country. The Indonesian Defence Ministry has announced its intention to acquire the AKINCI UCAV. After completing his work visit to Russia, the President-elect of the Republic of Indonesia, now acting as the Minister of Defence Prabowo Subianto, visited Türkiye for transit before continuing his trip back to Indonesia. He visited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Baykar facility where the future Indonesian Akıncı UCAVs will be manufactured.
Indonesia’s interest in Akıncı is not new. The Baykar company exhibited its capacity at the Indo Defence 2022 exhibition. It was known that the negotiations had started there at the expo. Indonesia is an island country with over 17,000 islands.
Therefore, the Indonesian Navy must set a maritime patrol capability. Therefore, the most feasible and effective solution is the acquisition of UCAVs. High-ranking officials from the Navy described the move as part of a larger effort to strengthen and develop the naval force. The Indonesian defence ministry recently said on social media that it is contacting Baykar and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) to partner with Indonesian aerospace firm Dirgantara Indonesia. Furthermore, the ministry decided in 2023 to acquire 12 Anka UCAVs from TUSAS for $300 million to improve the country’s ISR capabilities.
