Enviro News Asia, Serpong — Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Indonesian Air Force are preparing to restore a rainmaking control console to strengthen weather modification operations aimed at tackling forest and land fires.
The agencies began the process with an equipment inspection at the B.J. Habibie Science and Technology Area in Serpong, South Tangerang, on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The inspection was conducted by a team from the Air Force’s Depohar 10 maintenance unit, led by Taufik Yulianto, as part of an integrated weather modification operations task force.
The assessment aims to establish the console’s physical condition and technical readiness before it undergoes repairs in Bandung. The equipment must be restored and deemed operationally fit before it can be used again.
Agus Basuki, who manages national vital objects and occupational health and safety at BRIN’s B.J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, said the inspection was an initial step toward determining the repairs needed to restore the console.
“The inspection is an important stage in assessing the condition of the rainmaking console before repairs begin,” Agus said, adding that the equipment must meet operational requirements before being redeployed.
He said functioning weather modification equipment was an important part of operational preparedness, particularly when authorities needed to respond to the threat of forest and land fires.
Following the inspection, the console is scheduled to be transported to Bandung for repairs. Once the work is completed and the equipment passes a suitability assessment, it is expected to support future weather modification operations.
Agus said the restoration was part of efforts to optimize existing equipment rather than leave available infrastructure underused. He stressed that inspections and repairs needed to be carried out carefully to ensure the console could function safely and reliably.
The initiative also highlights cooperation between BRIN, which contributes research and technological expertise in weather modification, and the Air Force, whose Depohar 10 team provides technical support for equipment maintenance and restoration.
Agus said inter-agency coordination was essential to disaster management, which requires adequate resources, functioning technology and effective cooperation.
Through the partnership, the agencies hope to restore the console’s operational capability and strengthen Indonesia’s technological preparedness for weather modification operations, including those intended to support forest and land fire management.
However, the console’s reactivation remains conditional on the completion of repairs and confirmation that it is fit for operational use. (*)
