Indonesian Engineers Allegedly Steal KF-21 Fighter Jet Technology In South Korea, Indonesian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: Not Detained

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

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established contact with Indonesian engineers who are being investigated by South Korean officials regarding the alleged theft of fighter jet technology, ensuring they are not detained.

"The Indonesian government is currently gathering all information regarding allegations of involvement of an Indonesian engineer in a case related to a joint project of KF-21 fighter aircraft with the Korean Aerospace Industry (KAI)," explained a spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lalu M. Iqbal, Friday 2 February.

"The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul has communicated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea and related Korean institutions, in order to further explore the case," he continued.

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

Engineers sent to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are suspected of storing KF-21 development data on USB, according to sources in the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Defense Intelligence Counter Command (DCC), citing The Korea Times.

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

"The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul has also communicated directly with the Indonesian engineer and confirmed that he is currently not detained," said Iqbal.

"Indonesia's technology has been involved in this joint project since 2016 and is aware of the work procedures and applicable regulations," he added.

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

"The KF-21 project is a strategic project for both Indonesia and South Korea. The two countries will manage the various problems that arise in this collaboration as best they can," concluded Iqbal.