December 26, 2025 | 01:01 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Research Center for Aviation Technology at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has tested four winged unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). One aircraft, named LSU-02 VTOL, is designed for vertical takeoff and landing. This feature allows the drone to operate using only a short airstrip.
"The flight test results showed that the aircraft's flying performance and VTOL system functioned as expected," said Young Expert Researcher Danartomo Kusumoaji in a statement on the BRIN website on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
During the test, the LSU-02 VTOL flew at an altitude of 300 feet at a speed of 53 knots for eight minutes. Danartomo explained that the drone is built for territorial surveillance and area mapping. The team also tested three other winged drones at Lanud Rumpin, Bogor, between December 17 and 19, 2025.
The Alap-Alap aircraft completed a flight test to optimize its autopilot system. It reached an altitude of 800 feet and a speed of 50 knots during a 30-minute flight. "The test results showed that the autopilot system functioned properly," he said.
Danartomo noted that BRIN researchers fully designed and developed both the LSU-02 VTOL and Alap-Alap drones. This development includes the internal Flight Control Computer (FCC) technology.
Meanwhile, the Skywalker and Krishna drones used existing aircraft frames modified by BRIN researchers. Danartomo mentioned that the Krishna model is based on a Cessna aircraft design.
"Because it's specifically for testing the Flight Control Computer, we have to use a very good aircraft," he reasoned. Similarly, the Skywalker drone used a pre-existing design to help researchers identify aerodynamic parameters such as lift and drag.
The Krishna drone flight focused on evaluating the telemetry system, which sends real-time flight data to ground stations. The aircraft flew for 10 minutes at 300 feet with a speed of 50 knots.
Finally, the Skywalker drone flew to identify stability and flight response. The data from these tests will help researchers refine future designs and improve overall aircraft performance. BRIN plans to use these findings to advance Indonesia's domestic drone technology.
Read: Japan Trials 100-Kilowatt Laser Weapon to Combat Drones
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