Prabowo Ensures That Indonesia Will Continue to Participate In The KFX/IFX Aircraft Program

The Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto has ensured that Indonesia will remain in the KFX/IIFX fighter project with South Korea and will fulfill all of its commitments to South Korea.

"Yes, we will continue to negotiate with them. Anyway, we will fulfill our commitments," Prabowo said after being received by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Monday, June 26 afternoon.

This is a breath of fresh air for the continuity of the fighter aircraft project, which so far Indonesia has seemed hesitant to continue or stop.

Indonesia is also in arrears on the agreed settlement.

Prabowo said currently the government was negotiating with South Korea to pay off the obligation that had been delayed.

However, Prabowo was reluctant to specify the total details of the payment.

"We are basically fulfilling our commitment to them," he said.

The Indonesian government is taking part in the KFX/IFX fighter development project with South Korea.

The fighter jet was named the KF-21 Boramae.

It is reported that Indonesia still has financing obligations for the KFX/IFX project.

The total investment for the KF-21 Boramae is 8.8 trillion won, or around Rp. 100 trillion, with a financing scheme of 60 percent from the South Korean government, 20 percent from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a defense company from South Korea, and 20 percent from the Government of Indonesia.

The development of the KF-21 Boramae is currently at the engineering and manufacturing development (EDM) stage, which is expected to last until 2026.

After that, the fighter jet will enter the mass production stage.

Indonesia plans to buy 48 units of KF-21 Boramae in the joint program, while South Korea will buy 120 units.