They can not reverse engineer the control and guidance, neither the seeker nor the components and algorithms for sea-skimming, terrain hugging or contour/map matching.
The best information to be extracted is missile architecture, component tighteners and connection diagrams, body shape, control surfaces, structural design, etc. .
The body shape can be easily optimized by an academician within a week including the maneuvering characteristics and control surfaces (lift model etc). That leaves us with another critical part; engine.
I believe this is why they're using the C-705 'shell' as is: To minimize R&D cost since there will be less need for new aerodynamic calculations and tests. It's also likely that they're aiming to replace the original components with new ones with similar weight for the same reason.
On the other hand, if they can somehow replace some original components with ones that are lighter, there can be some other benefits too. For example, if the new guidance system is considerably lighter, they can have a choice to increase either the warhead weight or fuel capacity.
There are variety of TJ engine for this class of missile or the smaller one.
One does not need a reverse engineering program to make a cruise missile, but a solid road-map paved by R&D and milestones on critical components listed above.
Well, we're still lacking in the R&D department. Or at least that's what I think so far.
It's not that we don't have many qualified and highly skilled engineers and technicians, we do, in fact. But convoluted bureaucracy and other unnecessary burdens combined with overall atmosphere - or should I say, mentality (?) - that still doesn't see R&D as something truly worth to spend a lot of resources into have really hold us back in this regard.
It's even more 'cringy' when minor achievements being reported like they were so ground-breaking and revolutionary.
But back in the topic, I still hope that they will really do their 'homework' seriously in this 'reverse engineering' project. This is not only to provide us with the capability of "cloning" the missile, but to also set up a path for future projects.
I am not sure how far a foreign partner may contribute in such a project. If they are supplying the critical parts that differs this object from a TJ powered toy-drone, then why would they cut their future market loose? Unless otherwise, Indonesia has already granted a promise to acquire batch of hundred missiles and other related equipments worthing a billion and more at least?
I've talked a bit with a European company's representatives at one defense show, and yeah, basically that's what they told me.
Some Indonesian military enthusiasts still think that the "transfer of technology" term means that we'll also get 'blueprints', while forgetting that that's not how things work in regards to IP. Not when we're not buying a lot of what they're selling.
However, it's true that the company is willing to offer their assistance in this kind of project in the form of design/system integration consultation and probably more - especially if we're buying their stuff in sufficiently large number.
They could initiate an R&D project at least to make a mini-cruise missile as technology demonstrator and development platform for the future larger cruise missiles, there is a potential for that, as well as necessary human sources and minds. Such a platform could serve a greater purpose, where they can gradually integrate critical components either outsourced or locally produced, even finally converted into a kamikaze drone at the end, optionally.
Ah yeah, gradual R&D. That's what I believe too and not only in missile but in everything else as well.
It's unfortunate that some Indonesians are so adamant that we need to keep buying ready-made stuffs from foreign sources even if the capabilities to make them ourselves are inside or just a bit outside our reach. No wonder when considering that they often have their own vested interests to keep things as they are.