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Satellites might be unable to completely monitor and safeguard the nation’s vast ocean and forestry resources at all times, but a mini unmanned aircraft called Sriti could, a top official at the state-run Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology said on Friday.

Joko Purwono, director of the center for security and defense industry technology at the agency, or BPPT, said the aerial surveillance aircraft could better observe Indonesia’s forests and seas.

“It is autonomous and will carry cameras. A computer system will be connected, so the operator can see what the aircraft sees,” Joko said, adding that such high-powered surveillance would prove more effective, particularly for security purposes, than satellite images.

“Why do we not even know that there are people chopping trees down in our forests? Our archipelago’s treasures need safeguarding,” Joko said. “We need something that cannot be easily detected by the subjects of our surveillance.”

The agency has been working since 1999 in collaboration with state-owned aircraft producer PT Dirgantara Indonesia and a number of private firms to build mini aircraft to help with national defense and security.

To date, Joko said, a number of other prototype models have been developed, but Sriti has already progressed past the prototype stage after undergoing testing.

Work on Sriti is scheduled to be finalized next year. Developments have been ongoing since early this year, with the aircraft’s components sourced from local industries, with the exception of the engine, which has been imported from Japan. Joko said that the aircraft would be produced on a large scale at a cost of $200,000 each.

“In international markets it would sell for $400,000 a piece,” he said, adding that Sriti would also be utilized by the Indonesian Armed Forces.

“Should our soldiers wish to survey for specific threats all they need to do is operate the aircraft, and check the computer.”

He said that Sriti, weighing a mere six kilograms, would be 90 centimeters in length and have a wingspan of 2.6 meters.

Joko said it would work best flying at an altitude of between 2,000 feet (about 600 meters) and 3,000 feet but that it could reach a height of up to 5,000 feet.

Its aerial surveillance equipment will be of the highest order and a catapult will be used to achieve takeoff, he said. The aircraft will run on rechargeable batteries and have a maximum range of 10 kilometers.

“We will be ready for certification in 2010,” Joko said. “In the future, we will further develop models that are even smaller — completely unnoticeable.”

He stressed that the smaller models would be particularly helpful in missions aimed at conducting surveillance of terrorist activity.