Indonesian Aerospace Elang Hitam

According to PT DI and BPPT, the development of a MALE UCAV has been initiated by the Ministry of Defense's R&D since 2015 involving the TNI, Ditjen Pothan Kemhan, Ministry of Defense, BPPT, ITB, and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero). This was marked by creating a design agreement, drafting the requirements and objectives (DR&O) and determining the user, in this case it would be the TNI, especially the TNI-AU. The development started with preliminary design, basic design by making two wind tunnel models and the conclusion of test results in 2016 and 2018.[2] In 2019, LAPAN entered as a member of the consortium, and took part in the development of the MALE UCAV.[1]

The first prototype was rolled out on 30 December 2019 in the PTDI hangar.[3] First flight is expected to take place at the end of 2020. The Elang Hitam, according to its development plan, will be armed with missiles and capable of flying up to 30 hours non-stop with a cruising altitude of up to 23,000 ft. The specification is said to match the Chinese-made CH-4 Rainbow drone.[4]

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the first flight which was originally scheduled to fly for the first time in 2020 has been postponed to late 2021.[5]

The first prototype had its first ground run in 2 December 2021 in the PTDI apron, it was scheduled to fly in late December.

Data from LAPAN,[6] BRIN,[7] BRIN Video,[8] SINDOgrafis[9]

General characteristics

• Capacity: 300 kg (661 lb)
• Length: 8.65 m (28 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 16 m (52 ft 6 in)
• Height: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
• Empty weight: 575 kg (1,268 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,300 kg (2,866 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 915 iS turbocharged engine , 104 kW (139 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed

Performance

• Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph, 127 kn)
• Range: 250 km (160 mi, 130 nmi) LOS
• Endurance: 30 hours
• Service ceiling: 9.144 m (30.000 ft)

Avionics