Indonesia’s planned acquisition of 12 ANKA drones is a significant step in modernizing its military capabilities, enhancing maritime security and supporting self-reliance in defense manufacturing, analysts say.
The $300 million deal with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) includes six drones built in Turkey and six assembled locally by Indonesian aerospace firm PTDI. Delivery is expected by November 2025, with integration across Indonesia’s Air Force, Army and Navy to bolster protection of the country’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
The medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) will be critical in addressing maritime security challenges.
“Indonesia’s vast maritime territory, covering 3.25 million square kilometers of waters and more than 17,000 islands, presents a huge challenge in terms of surveillance and guarding,” Marcellus Hakeng Jayawibawa, a defense analyst with the Jakarta-based Lemhannas Strategic Center, told FORUM. The UAVs will “provide a strategic solution by enhancing early threat detection and enabling intensive patrols, even in adverse conditions.”
With advanced radar and infrared imaging, ANKA drones can monitor for illegal fishing, such as in the North Natuna and Arafura seas, and piracy in strategic trade routes such as the Malacca Strait, according to Marcellus.
As well as enhancing maritime domain awareness, the drones will strengthen Jakarta’s ability to address territorial disputes and other Indo-Pacific security challenges.
The agreement with TAI extends beyond procurement, underscoring the importance of technology transfers in bolstering Indonesia’s defense industry, Dr. Yono Reksoprodjo, head of technology transfer and offset at Indonesia’s Defense Industry Policy Committee, told FORUM. “Every purchase of defense products from abroad is bound by law to include obligations for trade returns, local content and offsets,” he said. “This ensures Indonesia can build operational independence and eventually produce similar products domestically.”
The collaboration aligns with Indonesia’s goal of bolstering self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing, providing a foundation for local production of advanced weaponry.
“If the project … is successful, it offers a great advantage for Indonesia,” said Teuku Rezasyah, an international relations lecturer at Padjadjaran University. “It prepares Indonesian engineers and researchers to master this technology and supports the development of local capabilities.”
The partnership with Turkey is a model for leveraging international cooperation to build domestic capacity. “This acquisition is not just about buying equipment; it’s about creating a sustainable and competitive defense ecosystem,” Yono said.
Turkey’s NATO membership enhances the reputation of its defense equipment, Marcellus noted. “Diversifying defense partners is crucial for Indonesia to reduce dependence on a single country,” he said. “This cooperation opens up opportunities for further collaboration in joint development and research.”
