Delegation of Safran visits Pindad, Discussed the Smart Bomb Cooperation for Rafale

Chief of Technology and Development of PT Pindad, Sigit P. Santosa accompanied by VP of Business Development, Yayat Ruyat and VP of Innovation, Windhu Paramarta and his staff welcomed the visit from the French Safran Electronics & Defense delegation, Andrea Bianchini, Clarisse Madeleine, and Patrice de Tervea on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Directorate Building of Pindad Bandung.

The purpose of this visit is to further discussion about cooperation in the MK-82 bomb to support the Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range (HAMMER) Smart Bomb which will later be used on Rafale fighter aircraft. Pindad plays a role in producing the bodies and contents of explosives for bombs. Other collaborations that will be carried out are in the field of optronics, control systems and other collaborations that will be explored together.

Chief of Technology & Development of PT Pindad, Sigit P. Santosa said that with this collaboration in the future Pindad will have the ability to produce and develop smart guided bomb products.

"PT Pindad has the ability to develop products and also produce the MK-82 used in the Rafale, which is one of the factors that we collaborate with Safran, a manufacturer that has a high reputation in the defense sector with its smart guided bomb. Safran is very serious about collaborating on the development of the MK-82 smart guided bomb with Pindad, which will produce it and Safran as a guidance kit provider, so that in the future Pindad will also have this capability adapted to conditions in Indonesia," said Sigit.

With this strategic partnership, Pindad will become a lead integrator and strengthen the capability of the domestic defense industry ecosystem.

"According to the mandate of Law 16 of 2012 concerning the defense industry, the lead integrator of defense products must be domestic, we build stronger Defend ID capabilities and establish strategic networking partnerships with global partners of which Safran is one," continued Sigit.

After the product discussion, Chief of Technology and Development, Sigit P. Santosa and the Safran delegation then carried out a plant tour to review the company's forging & cast production facilities and machining. Safran will also inspect the large-caliber munitions production facility at the Munitions Division Turen, Malang on April 13, 2022.

Indonesia and France have established strong defense cooperation, especially in the defense sector. On February 10, 2022, Indonesia officially purchased 42 units of French Rafale fighter aircraft. The signing of the contract for the acquisition of 42 new generation Rafale aircraft was carried out in the presence of the Minister of the French Armed Forces Florence Parly, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.

It is hoped that this collaboration will make PT Pindad a strategic partner for Safran and prove that the domestic defense industry, both in terms of technology and capabilities, is capable of producing and developing high-quality products.