Indonesia examines air defence concepts

Sherpa Mistral [samueltirta]

According to a PT Pindad official, the vehicle is a proof of concept to show how Indonesia might proceed in developing its own mobile air defence capabilities. The tracked chassis has been married to an MBDA launcher. 

The vehicle is being designed as a multipurpose artillery and air defence system and is the first tracked light APC to be developed by PT Pindad. The suspension consists of five small roadwheels with the drive sprocket at the front and the idler at the rear according to reports and it has a water-cooled six-cylinder diesel engine developing 250hp. 

PT Pindad has also looked at integrating MDBA’s Atlas air defence system, based on the Mistral missile, to its Komodo 4x4 vehicle as a rapid mobile air defence system. The Indonesian army is believed to have a requirement for at least 56 systems. 

PT Pindad completed the first prototype of the 4x4 Komodo multirole vehicle in March 2012 and the vehicle was formally named at the IndoDefence exhibition in November 2012. 

Government officials said at least 240 Komodo vehicles would be built for the Indonesian armed forces and police. About 80% of the vehicle's components are produced locally. The monocoque steel hull, which can withstand 7.62mm ammunition, is built by Krakatau Steel. 

Foreign components include a Renault diesel engine and Michelin tires. Atlas is a very short range air defence weapon system that is based on a vehicle mounted twin launcher that fires the Mistral 2 missile. It can be either operated autonomously using a thermal sight and its IFF or integrated to a fire control and co-ordination system such as the Mistral Coordination Post or Improved Missile Control Post.  

Sumber: Shephardmedia