`Indonesia factor' bars KF-X tech transfer
By Jun Ji-hye The United States appears reluctant to share technologies for Korea’s indigenous fighter jet development project due to the “Indonesia factor,” analysts said Wednesday.Indonesia maintains close defense ties with Russia and its partnership with Korea is worrying the U.S. government, they said.Korea plans to develop its own jets in close cooperation with Indonesia, the No. 1 importer of Russian weapons. But Washington, mindful of Indonesia’s relations with Russia, is concerned about possible leakage of core technologies in high-tech fighter jets, they said. They also said Indonesia’s participation may become an obstacle to the 8.5 trillion won KF-X project, aimed at developing indigenous fighter jets by 2025 to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.On Sunday, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the project’s preferred bidder, signed tentative deals with the Indonesian government and state-run defense company PT Dirgantara Indonesia. Under the deals, Indonesia will pay 20 percent of the costs and participate in th
