South Korea Investigates Indonesian Engineers for Alleged Technology Theft Related to the KF-21 Fighter Jet Project

Prototype of KF-21 fighter jets developed by Indonesia with South Korea. (Source: Defense Acquisition Program Administration via The Korea Times)

JAKARTA - South Korean authorities are investigating a number of Indonesian engineers for alleged theft of technology related to the KF-21 fighter jet being developed, various sources said on Friday

Engineers sent to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are suspected of storing KF-21 development data on USBs, according to sources at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCC).

"An investigation is currently being carried out to find out whether the stored data contains strategic technology," said a source familiar with the matter on condition of anonymity, reported by The Korea Times, February 2.

A team of investigators from the National Intelligence Agency and DCC have examined the data and prohibited Indonesian engineers from leaving South Korea.

Confirming this, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would check the news.

"I haven't (heard the news). I will check," said Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lalu M. Iqbal when confirmed via short message.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense has not provided an answer when confirmed regarding this matter.

Indonesia is known to be a partner in the KF-21 fighter jet development project with South Korea. Of the total project value of around 8.8 trillion won or around IDR 100 trillion, Indonesia is responsible for 20 percent of the financing for the project which was launched in 2015. So far, Indonesia is said to have paid 278.3 billion won.

Quoting CNN Indonesia, the Director of Technology and Defense at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, Dedy Laksmono, said last month that Indonesia was committed to continuing this cooperation. This was conveyed after South Korea claimed a shortfall in capital distribution payments.

"We remain committed to continuing cooperation with South Korea," said Dedy.

It is known that South Korea plans to start production of the KF-21 fighter jet later this year, with a target of having 120 KF-21s by 2032.