AHP-Based Evaluation of UAV Platforms for Maritime Surveillance Across Indonesia’s Archipelagic Sea Lanes

Indonesia’s vast archipelagic waters and strategic Archipelagic Sea Lanes (ALKI I, II, and III) demand effective maritime surveillance. This study applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing, and Hybrid VTOL UAVs across six criteria: range, endurance, payload, launch flexibility, weather resilience, and communication. Results indicate Hybrid VTOL UAVs as the most suitable overall, particularly for ALKI II and III, while Fixed-Wing UAVs best fit ALKI I, and Rotary-Wing UAVs serve tactical short-range needs. A region-specific UAV deployment strategy is recommended to strengthen maritime security and guide defense procurement.