Indonesia Explores Drone and Underwater Robotics Technology from Russia
Indonesia is exploring cooperation on the development and localisation of technology from Russia, ranging from drones for civilian use, underwater robotics, independent communication systems for emergency conditions, to waste processing technology. The cooperation opportunities were discussed in a bilateral meeting between the Ministry of Industry and Russian Federation Senator Ilyas Umakhanov in Jakarta. This exploration is part of efforts to expand industrial relations between the two countries, from trade towards investment, technology transfer, and industrial partnership.
Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that Indonesia views Russia as a strategic partner in building a more advanced and competitive industry. “We want the relationship between the two countries not to stop at trade, but to develop into investment cooperation, technology transfer, and industrial capacity development that provides real benefits for the people of both countries,” Agus said in his statement on Monday (24/8/2026).
In the meeting, cooperation opportunities were directed towards the utilisation of technology and strengthening industrial capacity that can be adapted to Indonesia’s needs. A number of areas became shared concerns, including telecommunications equipment, agrochemicals, industrial automation, waste processing, and other technologies with potential for development through partnerships between industry players of both countries. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Indonesia, the Russian Trade Representative, and representatives of Russian industry players.
Director General of Resilience, Regionalisation, and International Industrial Access at Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry, Tri Supondy, explained that the cooperation opportunities need to be directed towards partnerships that provide added value for domestic industry. “Indonesia-Russia cooperation needs to be directed towards matters that produce real benefits for industry, whether through investment, technology transfer, or partnerships connecting companies from both countries,” Tri said.
He added that the good relations between Indonesia and Russia need to be translated into more tangible economic cooperation, including through the exploration of technology that can be developed and localised according to national industrial needs. Senator Ilyas Umakhanov said that Russia has a number of technologies with potential for joint development with Indonesia. These technologies are considered adaptable to Indonesia’s characteristics as an archipelagic nation and to national industrial needs.
“We see many opportunities to develop technology cooperation with Indonesia. Russia has drone technology for civilian needs, underwater robotics suited to Indonesia’s characteristics as an archipelagic nation, independent communication systems for emergency conditions, and waste processing technology that can produce useful resources for agriculture and livestock farming,” he said. “We hope these technologies can be developed through joint cooperation and localisation in Indonesia,” added Senator Ilyas Umakhanov, a member of Russia’s Federation Council.
According to Ilyas, the cooperation can be adapted to Indonesia’s characteristics and needs, including through domestic technology development. The offer will subsequently become material for further cooperation exploration to assess the suitability of the technology with national industrial needs and its development opportunities in Indonesia.
This approach is in line with the interest of strengthening the national industrial structure. International cooperation is directed not only towards the entry of products or technology, but also towards increasing production capacity, technological mastery, and the creation of added value domestically. The strengthening of Indonesia-Russia industrial relations has previously taken place through Indonesia’s participation as Official Partner Country at INNOPROM 2026 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Indonesia’s presence at Russia’s largest industrial event opened wider space for interaction between companies of both countries through business forums, business matching, and meetings between business players.
Various cooperation potentials identified during the series of activities, both under Business-to-Business and Government-to-Government schemes, are part of the follow-up agenda for industrial relations between the two countries. The Minister of Industry has also reported the results of INNOPROM 2026 to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, including various cooperation opportunities that can still be developed. This shows that Indonesia-Russia industrial relations have an increasingly broad foundation of interaction, from business promotion and exploration to discussions on technology and investment opportunities.
With continuity of communication between governments, parliaments, trade representatives, and industry players, Indonesia-Russia cooperation has the potential to develop from the exchange of ideas into partnerships that produce added value. Meanwhile, the development and localisation of Russian technology in Indonesia is expected to strengthen national industrial capabilities while opening new investment and partnership opportunities. On the other hand, Indonesian companies have the opportunity to expand access to the Russian market and the Eurasian region.