[Military & Weapon Sub-sector] Author: Golden Bomber

According to relevant reports from Turkish media, one of its most important drone manufacturers, Baykar Teknik, has reached an important contract with Indonesia. The latter will invest a substantial amount to purchase 60 TB-3 drones and 9 "Ranger" (Akinci) drones. Among them, the TB-3 is a carrier-based drone, indicating that Indonesia is unwaveringly advancing its plan to purchase amphibious ships or aircraft carriers. It was reported that due to the incompatibility between the TB-3 and China's 075, the possibility of Indonesia purchasing the "Giuseppe Garibaldi" is significantly increasing.

▲Indonesian procurement of drones

The purchase of Turkish drones by Indonesia may seem "unusual", but their cooperation actually has precedents: previously, Indonesia also spent $300 million to buy "Anka" series reconnaissance drones produced by Turkey Aerospace Industries. In today's Indonesian Navy's decision to adopt a "diversified weapons procurement" strategy, Turkish products, with their super cost-effectiveness at only one-third or one-fourth the price of Western同类 weapons, have become one of the most important choices. According to the agreement content disclosed by both parties, Indonesia not only intends to purchase drone products but also plans to introduce production lines and drone manufacturing and maintenance centers to establish its own logistics support capabilities.

▲TB-3

The "Anka" series drone models and types are very diverse, including "Anka" A/B/S and "Anka" 1/2/3 models. Its core technical feature is the adoption of modular design and the use of carbon fiber composite materials for the fuselage. The early power system used German products, which were later upgraded to higher-power Turkish and Ukrainian products, and it also has excellent satellite communication capabilities. This series of drones appeared in Syria and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, mainly executing border reconnaissance, electronic interference, and providing precise target data for ground artillery units, performing excellently. The "Ranger" drone is a reconnaissance and strike drone, capable of carrying various precision-guided weapons, equipped with AESA radar, synthetic aperture radar, electronic warfare systems, and dual satellite communication systems.

▲TB-3

The TB-3 is a carrier-based reconnaissance and strike drone, with its predecessor, the TB-2, performing well in Ukraine. The TB-3 is 8.35 meters long, with a wingspan of 14 meters and a height of 2.6 meters, with a maximum takeoff weight of 1.45 tons. It is equipped with a domestically produced Turkish diesel engine, with a maximum cruising speed of 296 kilometers per hour, a maximum range exceeding 5,700 kilometers, a mission radius of nearly 2,200 kilometers, and can fly continuously for 24 hours. The 160-degree foldable body design makes the TB-3 occupy 40% less deck space than the TB-2.

Turkey developed the TB-3 due to an unexpected change: its "Anadolu" amphibious ship was originally intended to be equipped with the US F-35B fighter jets, but Turkey was sanctioned by the US earlier for purchasing Russia's S-400 air defense missile system, so it had to settle for drones as an alternative solution. The "Anadolu" was built in 2015 and officially delivered to the Turkish Navy in 2023. It has both amphibious ship and light aircraft carrier functions, and can adjust its displacement according to different missions. In light aircraft carrier mode, it weighs about 24,600 tons, while in amphibious mode, it weighs 27,000 tons. Its total deck area is 5,440 square meters, with six helicopter landing points. Additionally, it was originally planned to carry six F-35B fighters, four T-129 armed helicopters, eight AS532 transport helicopters, and two S-70B anti-submarine helicopters.

▲"Anadolu" ship

However, circumstances changed, and after the cancellation of purchasing the F-35B, Turkey could only replace it with the TB-3. The "Anadolu" can carry up to 40 to 50 TB-3s, transporting them to the deck via two elevators located at the front and rear of the bridge, and then launching them from the ski jump deck. During this time, the aircraft carrier can control drones to execute various complex tasks through two military satellite communication antennas. The TB-3 can carry four laser-guided bombs, such as the MAM-L with a range of 15 kilometers and the Sandman series lightweight intelligent ammunition with a range of 8 kilometers. The TB-3 has already undergone a series of tests on the "Anadolu". Compared with helicopters and carrier-based fixed-wing fighters, it has better stealth performance and can save a lot of costs without considering the physiological limits of pilots. Both usage and maintenance costs are very low.

▲075

As early as February this year, foreign media reported that the Indonesian government was considering whether to purchase China's 075 amphibious assault ship or the Italian "Giuseppe Garibaldi" light aircraft carrier nearing retirement. As an archipelago nation, Indonesia's need is not for a powerful combat vessel but rather a ship that can excel in "humanitarian" tasks. Its intended use for such large vessels involves transporting disaster victims and carrying relief supplies. From this perspective, the 075, which can carry hovercrafts, helicopters, and has advanced medical facilities, seems like an ideal choice. The "Giuseppe Garibaldi," however, only has helicopters as rescue tools and may struggle to operate under extreme weather conditions.

However, after Indonesia introduced Turkey's drones, the situation may undergo some changes. As mentioned earlier, when the TB-3 drone was being developed, consideration was given to compatibility with Turkey's 12-degree ski jump deck on the "Anadolu." However, it is well known that the 075 uses a straight-through deck design without crossing structures, which will significantly affect the takeoff and landing performance of the TB-3. For landing, the "Anadolu" has arresting wires, whereas the 075 does not have such a design. If modifying the 075, significant changes to the deck structure would be required. Not only would this be expensive, but there is also a risk of failure. On the other hand, the Italian light aircraft carrier does not face this issue; after a certain level of testing, the TB-3 can easily be deployed onboard. However, this does not mean that China will be completely eliminated from this competition.

▲"Giuseppe Garibaldi" ship

Although the Italian light aircraft carrier is being sold very cheaply, even offering a symbolic price of $1 to Indonesia, it still requires extensive subsequent modifications. Like the 075, the internal support equipment of the "Giuseppe Garibaldi" was not specifically designed for drones but for helicopters. Regardless of which ship Indonesia purchases, some modifications will ultimately be necessary. The price of the Italian aircraft carrier is indeed low, but the subsequent modifications may cost as much as the 075. The 075 provided by China to Indonesia will not only be newly manufactured but also have a much longer lifespan than the old aircraft carrier, and its internal electronic equipment can be customized according to Indonesia's needs. The only problem is that the 075 is likely to only be able to use helicopters. If Indonesia insists on deploying the TB-3 onboard, the 075 may have little chance.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7506440429521469952/

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