The Indonesian Navy has begun receiving Boeing Insitu ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) donated by the US government. Indonesian Navy expected to receive 6 ScanEagle UAVs this year. The drones will be employed to conduct maritime surveillance. The Indonesian Defense Ministry has accepted a grant comprising 14 Insitu ScanEagle drones and three Bell 412 helicopters from the United States, as Jakarta expects the equipment to further strengthen the Navy’s maritime patrol operations throughout the archipelago.
Boeing subsidiary Insitu was awarded an almost $48 million contract for 34 ScanEagle unmanned air vehicles for Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. The order also provides for spare payloads, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools, training, technical services, and field service representatives. Malaysia is to receive 12 vehicles, Indonesia 8; the Philippines 8, and Vietnam 6. The release also detailed the costs to each government: Malaysia $19,329,334; Philippines $9,633,665; Vietnam $9,770,120; and Indonesia $9,197,672.
Boeing Insitu ScanEagle is a small, long-endurance, low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing, and is used for reconnaissance. The ScanEagle was designed by Insitu based on the Insitu SeaScan, a commercial UAV that was intended for fish-spotting. A single ScanEagle system reportedly comprises four air vehicles, a ground control station, a remote video terminal and the launch and recovery systems. The drone carries a stabilized electro-optical and/or infrared camera on a lightweight inertial stabilized turret system.
