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| President Moon Jae-in speaks during the unveiling ceremony of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet at Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Yonhap |
By Nam Hyun-woo
Korea has rolled out a prototype of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, formerly known as the KF-X, marking a success in the project to locally develop a next-generation combat aircraft with indigenous technology.
President Moon Jae-in visited Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday, for the unveiling ceremony of the first KF-21 Boramae. Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and more than 230 government officials from both countries also attended the ceremony. Indonesia is a partner in the project.
"A new era in self-defense has come and we have set a historical milestone in the progress of our aviation industry," Moon said. "I also express sincere gratitude to the Indonesian government for having trust in Korea's capability and becoming a partner in this co-development project. Until the development is complete and the two countries are ready for mass production to make forays into third-country markets, Korea and Indonesia will work together."
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| Seen above is the prototype of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet during its unveiling ceremony at the Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Yonhap |
The KF-21 is a multi-role fighter jet and the outcome of the KF-X aircraft development program which has been pursued since 2016. Indonesia has promised to fund 20 percent of the total development cost, or 1.73 trillion won ($1.55 billion), in exchange for 50 planes that will be manufactured there for the Indonesian Air Force, as well as technology transfers.
Korean engineers have been leading the design and development process of the KF-21, localizing key technologies including the active electronically scanned array, infrared search and tracking system, electro-optical targeting pod and electronic warfare suite.
When the Boramae completes its final tests, Korea will be the world's eighth nation to develop an advanced supersonic jet with its own technology. Moon said mass production will begin after final tests, and Korea plans to deploy 40 KF-21s by 2028 and 120 by 2032.
"The government seeks to become one of the top seven aviation powerhouses in the 2030s and will strengthen the country's technological independence in aircraft engines and other core technologies," Moon said. "Also, the government will make long-term investments into the technologies for electric or hydrogen aircraft and urban air mobility."
According to the government, 719 Korean businesses have participated in the development of the KF-21. About 65 percent of over 30,000 parts used in the prototype aircraft were made in Korea, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the KAI plan to raise this percentage.
The government estimates the project has created 2.1 trillion won in economic effects and 12,000 jobs from 2016 to 2020. When it goes into mass production, 100,000 new jobs will be created and 5.9 trillion won of additional value will be generated, according to the government.
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| President Moon Jae-in and Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, right, salute during the unveiling ceremony of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet at Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Yonhap |
Overdue payment
Though the KF-21 has now been unveiled, Korea and Indonesia are yet to settle the issue over cost-sharing of the project.
Indonesia has paid only 227.2 billion won as of this month out of the 831.6 billion won it promised, citing financial problems, and the country's defense priorities are now on mid-term improvements, such as purchasing warplanes that can be put into operation immediately.
While Indonesia has been falling behind on its payments, the head of Jakarta's air force said the country will purchase Boeing F-15 EXs from the U.S. and Dassault Rafales from France between 2021 and 2024, triggering doubts about Indonesia's commitment to the project.
During Thursday's meeting between Prabowo and Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook, they agreed to "reciprocally cooperate" and further discuss details regarding the KF-21 project, but did not mention the overdue payment. Prabowo also met with President Moon later on Thursday and with Minister of Foreign Affairs Chung Eui-yong Friday morning, but the payment issue was also not mentioned in official statements after the meetings.
Though Jakarta is showing an increasingly tepid stance, defense industry officials said the government is desperate to keep the Southeast Asian country as its partner, because Indonesia is Korea's largest defense market in the region, and has already purchased the KT-1 training aircraft and Nagapasa class submarine.
Reportedly, France is suggesting a package of financial aid and technology transfers to Indonesia in return for purchasing the Rafale.
