LAPAN LSU-02

The LAPAN LSU-02 (LAPAN Surveillance UAV-02) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Lembaga Penelitian dan Penerbangan Nasional (LAPAN) of Indonesia. It was developed in 2012 for both civilian and military purposes. The Indonesian military classifies it as a tactical UAV because of its ability to fly over long ranges (300 km, theoretically 450 km) for its size. It broke an Indonesian record for longest ranged UAV built locally.

LSU-02
LSU-02 aboard KRI Diponegoro
Role	Surveillance UAV
National origin	Indonesia
Manufacturer	LAPAN (Lembaga Penelitian dan Penerbangan Nasional - National Institute of Aeronautics and Space)
Primary user	Indonesian Armed Forces
Produced	2012-present

Operational history

The LSU-02 was used in the 2013 Indonesian Army joint exercise in the Java Sea, launched from the helicopter deck of KRI Diponegoro 365. The mission was to provide target surveillance for an Exocet MM40 missile. The aircraft can loiter autonomously near its target, with average speed of 70 km/h. In this exercise, the UAV flew for 2 hours and 45 minutes, covering about 200 km.^[1] It achieved a national record for UAV with the furthest distance covered by Indonenesian Record Museum (MURI).^[2]

In 2016, an LSU-02 was used to photograph 300 km of the coastline south of Java Island, as part of a data collection project to update mapping of the territorial coastline of Indonesia. The LSU-02 photographed Java's southern coastline, starting from Parangtritis, Yogyakarta, to Popoh Beach, Trenggalek, East Java. Photographing continued on Pacitan beach, East Java on its 100 km coastline.^[3]

Development

In 2018, LAPAN unveiled a new version of LSU-02, dubbed LSU-02 NGLD (New Generation, Long Distance) during National Technological Expo to commemorate Hari Kebangkitan Teknologi Nasional at Pekanbaru.^[4] It then broke its previous MURI record by achieving 405km range of flight at 17 July 2019.^[5][6] In 2021, LAPAN tested a hybrid VTOL version of LSU-02 drone in its facility at Pameungpeuk, Garut, West Java. This VTOL version has extra rotors positioned at the front end and rear end of a spar positioned on each wing. Its MTOW increased by 5kg (23kg), while its fuel capacity is 3,8kg, theoretically able to sustain 2,5-3 hours flight.^[7] LSU-02 VTOL was designed mainly for mapping, surveillance, and monitoring.^[8][9]

Specifications (LSU-02)

Data from Manufacturer^[10]

General characteristics

• Crew: none
• Capacity: 3 kg (6.6 lb)
• Length: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
• Empty weight: 15 kg (33 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 18 kg (40 lb)
• Fuel capacity: 5 L (1.3 US gal; 1.1 imp gal)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
• Range: 450 km (280 mi, 240 nmi)
• Endurance: 5 hours (3 hours for VTOL version)
• Service ceiling: 3,000 m (9,800 ft)

See also

• Lapan LSU-03