Wulung

The Wulung (also designated PUNA Wulung or IAe Wulung) is an Indonesian tactical unmanned aerial vehicle developed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It was produced by PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) following joint development with the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the Research and Development Agency (Balitbang) of the Ministry of Defence. Series production for the Indonesian armed forces began in November 2014, and the type received military airworthiness certification in 2016. It is the first indigenously developed UAV to enter series production and certified service in Indonesia.

Development

Development began around 2004 under BPPT, with the Ministry of Defence's Balitbang and PTDI participating in the programme. Production responsibility passed to PTDI around 2013, and the manufacturer began series production for the Indonesian armed forces in November 2014. The Wulung received military type certification from the Indonesian Military Airworthiness Authority (IMAA/IDAA) on 2 May 2016 after a series of flight tests. Approximately 25 airframes have been built, with at least three in active service with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) as of the early 2020s. In 2025 PTDI announced a partnership with South Africa's Milkor covering light and medium-class drone development, alongside plans to extend the Wulung's endurance and add maritime operating capability.

Design

The Wulung uses a conventional configuration with a shoulder-mounted straight mainplane, fixed tricycle undercarriage and a T-style single-boom tail unit. Propulsion is provided by a rear-mounted gas-fuelled piston engine of approximately 22 hp (16 kW) driving a two-bladed propeller in pusher arrangement. The airframe is built from composite materials and is designed for rapid assembly and modular maintenance. Overall length is 4.42 m, wingspan 6.35 m and height 1.48 m; empty weight is approximately 65 kg and maximum take-off weight 125 kg, with a maximum payload of about 36 kg and a 35-litre fuel tank. Maximum speed is 185 km/h with a cruise speed of 93–110 km/h, service ceiling between 1,065 and 1,600 m, take-off and landing run under 500 m, and endurance of approximately four hours. Operational radius is reported between 100 and 150 km depending on configuration, with PTDI citing 150 km during a 2025 demonstration. The aircraft is operated from a Ground Control Station and flies autonomously along a pre-programmed route under operator oversight. The primary sensor is a high-definition electro-optical/infrared turret providing day and night video and still imagery; most avionics and the EO/IR payload are sourced internationally. No armament is carried, the payload bay being reserved for sensors and optics.

Operational History

The Wulung serves with the TNI-AU in the ISR role, including border and maritime surveillance, and has been used for disaster monitoring and search operations within Indonesia. The Indonesian maritime security agency Bakamla expressed interest in the type following a demonstration flight in March 2025. Indonesia remains the only operator, and no export sales have been recorded.