
UAE Subsidiary Seals eVTOL Maintenance Tie‑Up at Indo Defence
This pact amplifies Kintsugi Holding's strategy to localise next‑generation aviation service capabilities. Autocraft's eVTOL enters a market where regional regulators are racing to define sustainable urban air mobility standards and India's neighbouring economies look to diversify their green transport options. Tareq AlBannay, vice‑president of future systems at Kintsugi Holding, said the partnership 'builds the groundwork for a self‑reliant ecosystem that supports the introduction and sustainability of clean air mobility in Indonesia'.
GMF CEO Andi Fahrurrozi highlighted the deal as a forward‑looking leap for Indonesia's aerospace landscape, describing the eVTOL initiative as a strategic commitment to 'transformative, sustainable aviation'. GMF's involvement encompasses not just MRO services but a transfer of knowledge through training programmes tailored to the E20+ platform.
ADVERTISEMENT
Taking place amid a broader context of Indo Defence 2025, the agreement complements other collaboration announcements that spawned 27 memoranda worth approximately IDR 33 trillion, spanning domestic and international defence entities. The expo featured more than 1,180 exhibitors from 55 countries, underscoring Indonesia's ambition to elevate its military‑industrial capacity and global standing.
Alongside air mobility progress, Kintsugi's Eneron subsidiary showcased its Magnum MK1 hybrid patrol vehicle, which captured the interest of Indonesian security forces, including TNI and Polri delegations. The Magnum MK1 integrates hybrid-electric systems with built-in drone charging and all‑terrain resilience, underlining Kintsugi's pivot to holistic future mobility solutions.
The alliance between Autocraft and GMF reflects a broader momentum across defence and aerospace industries toward green and digital technologies. GMF's series of partnerships, including prior MOUs with Boeing, Turkish Aerospace Indonesia and Dassault Aviation, point to a concerted effort to enhance the country's MRO ecosystem and technical expertise.
Indonesia's Defence Minister, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, described the expo as a showcase of domestic industry progress—highlighting vehicles such as PT Pindad's electric Maung and the Harimau tank—alongside international exhibits. President Prabowo Subianto, who presided during the expo's opening on 11 June, emphasised that defence capability and technological innovation are inseparable from sovereignty and enduring peace.
The Autocraft‑GMF eVTOL agreement dovetails with Indonesia's pursuit of autonomy in air mobility infrastructure. It also aligns with global ambitions to integrate zero‑emission aircraft into transport networks, supported by regulatory alignment efforts across Southeast Asian aviation authorities. GMF's role extends beyond maintenance: it aims to ensure diagnostic readiness, system upgrades and full operational compliance within the Indonesian civil and defence regulatory context.
At the Kintsugi Pavilion within the expo, elements from both Autocraft and Eneron were on display, offering a glimpse into an emerging UAE‑Indonesia axis in defence tech cooperation. The strategic emphasis on local capability building confirms a shift from simple procurement to establishing enduring ecosystems that span design, maintenance, operations and regulatory policy.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Post
a day ago
- Arabian Post
UAE Unveils First Global Framework for Hybrid Air Operations
A landmark regulation issued by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority introduces the world's first official framework enabling electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft and conventional helicopters to operate interchangeably using the same infrastructure. This innovation positions the nation at the forefront of the global Advanced Air Mobility revolution, merging cutting-edge technology with established aviation systems. At the heart of this framework lies the decision to permit eVTOLs, commonly known as flying taxis, to utilise existing helipads across the UAE's urban clusters. More than 70 such landing sites now fall under the new regulation, dramatically reducing the need for fresh infrastructure and greatly accelerating deployment timelines. The unified use of helipads also promises lower capital expenditure and simpler implementation for operators seeking entry into the nascent aerial market. GCAA Director‑General Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi explained that the framework not only accommodates emerging technologies but 'redefines how aviation evolves,' reinforcing the UAE's commitment to innovation and ecosystem readiness. His remarks underscore a broader government directive aimed at embedding agile, efficient, and non-bureaucratic solutions across strategic industries. ADVERTISEMENT The framework's architecture builds on CAR AGA PART VFI, a comprehensive regulatory tool establishing unified design and operational standards for vertiports, heliports, and helidecks. It includes protocols for eVTOL charging infrastructure, visual navigational systems, and emergency response measures such as rescue and fire‑fighting capabilities. Critical roles in operations—ranging from flight‑line officers to fire response teams—have also been codified with clear competency benchmarks and accountability pathways. The GCAA's hybrid regulation emerges from collaborative efforts with global AAM stakeholders, aimed at aligning with the UAE's long‑term strategy for a sustainable, intelligent transport network. Aqeel Al Zarouni, Assistant Director‑General for Aviation Safety Affairs, emphasised that the regulation enhances regulatory flexibility without compromising safety standards—a principle central to the authority's mandate. This policy shift dovetails with technological advances already underway in major emirates. Abu Dhabi recently conducted a test flight of an autonomous eVTOL taxi from the Cruise Terminal helipad, flying over the city marina—an example of utilisation within the shared‑infrastructure model. Dubai followed with its first Joby Aviation eVTOL flight at the Jetman test facility near Margham, as part of preparations for a commercial launch slated for early 2026. Joby's aircraft, which seats five and reaches cruising speeds of up to 200 mph with a range of approximately 150 miles, has received a six‑year exclusive operating pact from Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority. This pact includes use of multiple vertiports—such as Dubai International Airport and Palm Jumeirah—and forms part of wider FAA certification steps in the United States. Dubai RTA Director‑General Mattar Al Tayer highlighted the potential benefits to city travel, pointing out that routes like Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah could be slashed to a 12‑minute journey versus 45 minutes by road. The shared helipad concept under the new framework leverages this advantage, enabling swift service roll‑out via existing infrastructure. Challenges remain, particularly concerning integration with current air traffic management systems, nocturnal flight regulations, noise standards, and the electrification of landing facilities. The GCAA's PART VFI addresses these by establishing emergency planning protocols, licensing pathways for Primary Accountable Organisations to manage landing zones, and registering infrastructure compliance. Global authorities, including the FAA and EASA, are expected to monitor the UAE's deployment closely, as the country acts as a de facto proving ground for AAM. If successful, the UAE model could serve as a template for urban air mobility frameworks worldwide—bridging the gap between innovation and practical implementation. Momentum within the UAE's AAM sector is evident: multiple eVTOL developers, including Archer Aviation and EHang, are entering the market. Their strategies focus on retrofitting existing helipads with charging and support systems tailored to eVTOLs. Archer's CCO, Nikhil Goel, highlighted the cost-effectiveness of this approach, noting that ramping up with current helipad assets demands 'minimal capital'.


Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Gulf Today
Indonesia offers to cut duties on US goods, buy $500 million of wheat
Indonesia has offered to cut duties on key imports from the United States to 'near zero' and to buy $500 million worth of US wheat as part of its tariff talks with Washington, its lead negotiator and a wheat industry association said on Friday. Chief economics minister Airlangga Hartarto, who is Indonesia's lead negotiator, also confirmed that state carrier Garuda Indonesia would buy more Boeing planes as part of a $34 billion pact with US partners due to be signed next week. Indonesia, which ran a goods trade surplus of $17.9 billion with the United States in 2024 according to the US Trade Representative, is facing a 32 per cent tariff in US markets and has proposed increasing US imports to facilitate trade talks between the two sides. Airlangga said the Indonesian government has offered to cut tariffs on key American exports, including agricultural products, to near-zero from between 0 per cent and 5 per cent at present. 'It will be near zero (tariffs for US main exports), but it will depend as well on how much the tariffs we get from the US,' Airlangga said. Garuda's CEO has said it is in discussions with US Boeing to buy up to 75 units of aircraft. Garuda group did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. The wheat purchases are also part of next week's pact with US partners. The chairman of Indonesia's wheat flour mills association, Franciscus Welirang, said its 'members will purchase two million tonnes in total through tenders with a competitive price.' 'The point is all of the members will buy US wheat,' Welirang, who is also a director at Indofood, told Reuters. The US counterparts in the wheat deal include Cargill, Bunge Global SA, Pacificor, Archer-Daniels-Midland, Columbia Grain International, and United Grain Corporation, Welirang added. US exports to Indonesia include soybeans, petroleum gases and aircraft, Indonesian government data showed. When asked whether the trade talks include military deals, Airlangga said they were 'not part of the negotiation'. Susiwijono Moegiarso, a senior official with Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, told Reuters that in return, Jakarta has asked the United States for preferential tariffs on its main exports, including electronics, textiles and footwear. 'We want them to lower the tariffs (for those goods) as low as possible,' he said. Indonesia has also offered the United States opportunities to invest in critical minerals projects, including in the country's abundant resources of copper, nickel and bauxite. Meanwhile Indonesia broke ground Sunday on a $5.9 billion megaproject for EV battery production backed by Chinese giant CATL, despite NGOs raising concerns over a lack of environmental guarantees. Indonesia is the world's largest nickel producer and it is trying to capitalise on its vast reserves, with a 2020 export ban spurring a domestic industrial boom of the key metal used in EV batteries and stainless steel. The EV battery project will include a $4.7 billion investment on the eastern island of Halmahera and a $1.2 billion investment in West Java, energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia said in a speech alongside President Prabowo Subianto. 'According to my calculation, it won't take long, in probably between five to six years we will be able to reach energy self-sufficiency,' Prabowo said at a groundbreaking ceremony in Karawang, West Java. Bahlil said the Halmahera complex will focus on mining, smelting and production of cathodes which are a key component in rechargeable batteries. The West Java complex will focus on battery cell production, the minister said. The two politicians did not say when the megaproject was slated to be operational, but Indonesian officials have said a CATL plant in Halmahera would open in March next year. Alongside CATL, the Halmahera complex is backed by China's Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Indonesia's state-owned Antam. Climate Rights International (CRI) and Greenpeace Indonesia this week issued a call for greater assurances from Jakarta that measures were in place to protect the surrounding environment at the bigger complex in eastern Halmahera. Environmental group Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) said in a statement Saturday that Jakarta was 'chasing vague economic growth while consciously ignoring the people's scream' to end damage to the environment and residents' livelihoods. Halmahera, a once-pristine island in the Maluku archipelago, has seen environmental damage increase as operations have grown at a large industrial park that hosts the world's largest nickel mine. A CRI report this month warned the Indonesian government was allowing environmental damage to go unchecked around the Weda Bay mine and the industrial park that hosts it. Agencies


Filipino Times
4 days ago
- Filipino Times
Saudi Arabia, Indonesia sign $27 billion in deals
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia signed a series of major agreements worth around $27 billion during the state visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to the Kingdom, according to a joint statement issued by the Saudi Press Agency. The agreements cover key sectors including clean energy, petrochemicals, and aviation fuel services, underscoring the two countries' intent to deepen economic cooperation. President Prabowo was welcomed by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where both leaders oversaw the signing of the agreements. The deals were signed between leading companies and institutions from both countries and are aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and Indonesia's Golden Indonesia Vision 2045. Both sides stressed the importance of expanding trade and investment ties, and agreed to develop mechanisms that facilitate the smooth flow of investments and reduce regulatory hurdles. Trade between the two nations has totaled approximately $31.5 billion over the past five years, making Saudi Arabia Indonesia's largest trading partner in the Middle East. The two countries reiterated their commitment to increasing two-way trade, improving investment frameworks, and supporting business-to-business partnerships. They also lauded the ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Indonesia, with hopes of finalizing the deal soon.