Meeting South Korean DAPA, Moeldoko Discusses Continuation Of Combat Jet Cooperation

Illustration of fighter jets (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA The Presidential Chief of Staff, Moeldoko, met with the Minister of Administration of the Defense Acquisition Program (DAPA) of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Badminton Dinghwan, at the Bina Graha building, Jakarta, Thursday 5 October. The meeting discussed the sustainability of cooperation in the development of Korean fighter X and Indonesia Fighter X (KFX/IFX) fighters.

Moeldoko said the cooperation in developing KFX/IFX fighter aircraft continues. Defense industry cooperation, he said, is very important for Indonesia's relations with South Korea, which this year is entering the age of 50 years.

"The President's directive for cooperation is continued, because it is a strategic collaboration. Both for the development of long-term defense infrastructure and the transfer of technology knowledge," he said.

As is known, the implementation of the cooperation of KFX/IFX fighter aircraft is under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenkopolhukam), and the Ministry of Defense (Kemhan). In this collaboration, Indonesia will get a transfer of fighter aircraft technology. This project is expected to produce 120 units of fighter aircraft for South Korea, and 48 units for Indonesia.

Moeldoko also said that the Indonesian government through the Presidential Staff Office, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the TNI continued to look for breakthroughs so that the continued cooperation in the development of KFX/IFX fighter aircraft could run.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Administration for the Defense Acquisition Program (DAPA) of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), expressed his appreciation for the Indonesian government's commitment to continue cooperation in developing KFX/IFX fighter aircraft.

"This is in line with the agreement of the leaders of the two countries, that Indonesia and Korea are the best partners. Thank you to the Indonesian government for the sustainability of this collaboration (KFX/IFX fighter aircraft)," said Dinghwan.