Administrator Seok Jong-geon of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) met with Doni Ermawan Taufan, Deputy Minister of Defense of Indonesia, in Jakarta on the 21st to agree to continue defense industry cooperation. This high-level meeting between the two countries was the first since the technology leak incident involving Indonesian researchers dispatched to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the Korean fighter jet KF-21 last January.
According to DAPA on the 24th, Administrator Seok discussed ways to enhance defense cooperation during the meeting and reaffirmed both countries' commitment to continue joint development cooperation on the KF-21. In particular, they agreed to collaborate on payment methods for contributions and to expedite revisions to the joint development agreement for the KF-21. Earlier, in August last year, the Korean government reduced Indonesia's contributions to the KF-21 development from 600 billion won (initially 1.6 trillion won) and decided to scale back technology transfers.
This is because Indonesia has been experiencing difficulties in funding. While it needed to amend the joint development agreement from 2016 by reducing contributions, discussions about the revisions stalled after five Indonesian researchers dispatched to KAI were indicted without detention on December 13. The Indonesian side has claimed that the investigation into its domestic technicians by Korea is unjust.
Administrator Seok noted, "This has become an opportunity to transition and normalize the somewhat strained atmosphere of bilateral defense cooperation, and to establish grounds for enhancing collaboration, including the joint development and production of the KF-21 in Southeast Asia, which has significant growth potential." He added, "I hope this meeting will strengthen mutual communication and solidify the partnership to overcome current challenges."
In addition, Administrator Seok held discussions on the local production of the basic trainer KT-1 in Indonesia and the overall maintenance and parts production for helicopters.