South Korea Approves RI's Proposal To Adjust KFX/IFX Fighter Jet Financing

Purwarupe KF 21 Boramae during the flight test in February 2023. (ANTARA / koreaero.com) (ANTARA / koreaero.com / 231129676055102)

JAKARTA - The South Korean government (South Korea) approved Indonesia's proposal to adjust the financing for the KF-21 Boramae Indonesian fighter aircraft (KFX/IFX) project from an initial commitment of 1.6 trillion won or around Rp. 18.5 trillion to 600 billion won or around Rp. 6.95 trillion.

Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense Brigadier General TNI Edwin Adrian Sumantha explained that the defense authority in South Korea in charge of cooperation and procurement of defense equipment approved Indonesia's proposal.

He continued that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia is also currently negotiating cooperation over the technology transfer of the cooperation project for the manufacture of fighter aircraft after adjustments.

"There are several technological transfers (ToT) that will be obtained from joint development cooperation with KFX/IFX fighter aircraft, namely the ability to produce how to design, build warplanes, make several components including wings, tails, several parts of the behind-the-aircraft, and severalpylon/adapters for weaponry and sensors, final assembly, flight tests, and re-certification for IFX aircraft," said Karo Public Relations of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense, reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 20.

He continued that the ToT targeted by the Indonesian government in the joint project is also related to operational and maintenance capabilities, which include integrated logistics support, maintenance of KFX/IFX fighter aircraft, development of training systems for pilots and technicians, as well as the ability to solve problems (troubleshooting) during operations.

"Then, the ability to modify and upgrades, namely to design integration and re-sertification of theiquerequirement with emergency flares, external fuel tanks, and water-refueling, as well as to integrate new weapons systems, avionics, sensors, and electronics," Edwin continued to transfer the technology expected to be accepted by Indonesia in the cooperation project.

South Korean News Agency Yonhap last week (16/8) reported that the Defense Project Promotion Committee committee in South Korea, which is in charge of the defense equipment cooperation project, approved Indonesia's proposal regarding the adjustment of the payment for the KFX/IFX fighter aircraft development project.

Thus, for the portion of payments that are no longer Indonesia's responsibility, as reported by Yonhap, it will be borne by the South Korean Government and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) which are currently Indonesia's partners in developing 4.5 KF-21 Boramae-generation fighter aircraft.

The cooperation in making the KF-21 Boramae fighter jets was launched in 2015, and is targeted for completion in 2026.