Korea, Indonesia launch fighter jet partnership

By Kim Young-jin

Korea and Indonesia will launch joint efforts today on an indigenous Korean fighter jet development program, Seoul said.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Monday that defense and procurement officials from each side would meet in Daejeon for a ceremony to officially open the partnership as well a joint research facility there.

Signed in April, the agreement calls on Jakarta to pay for 20 percent of early development costs, or $10 million, for Seoul’s KF-X project and send over 30 researchers to work on the project.

Indonesia will acquire 50 KF-X fighters for its contributions.

Noh Dae-rae, head of DAPA and Eris Herryanto, secretary-general of the Indonesian defense ministry, will attend the ceremony.

"Since initiating diplomatic ties in 1973, South Korea and Indonesia have maintained friendly ties in many areas," Noh said in a release.

"In particular, the KF-X project has been made possible thanks to our consistent exchange and cooperation in the defense industry and defense procurement. It will be a strategic project that will be responsible for the development of defense industries and national security in both countries."

The Air Force has pursued the KF-X project since 2000 in a bid to replace its aging F-4/5 fighter jets with indigenous aircraft that have stealth capabilities by 2020. DAPA expects to pick a prototype next year.

Korea and Indonesia have increased bilateral defense exchanges since the leaders of the two countries agreed last year to jointly develop weapons and boost bilateral trade. In May, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a deal to export 16 T-50 jets worth $400 million to Indonesia. Jakarta is Korea's 10th biggest trade partner with bilateral trade volume estimated at $22.9 billion in 2010.