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Should Indonesia continue KFX/IFX program?
After eight years, the KFX/IFX indigenous jet fighter coproduction program involving Indonesia and South Korea is hanging in the balance.
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In a busy assembly hangar of PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) stands a new light transport airplane. (JP/Marguerite Afra Sapiie)
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fter eight years, the KFX/IFX indigenous jet fighter coproduction program involving Indonesia and South Korea is hanging in the balance.
South Korean officials have expressed concern about Indonesia’s failure to pay its share of investment in 2017, saying this put the program in jeopardy. Indonesia has to make a decision on its participation in the program sooner rather than later.
The KFX is an essential part of the acquisition strategy that aims to kill two birds with one stone: to replace air force inventory — around 300 jet fighters in Korea and more than two squadrons in Indonesia — and to build up indigenous research and development (R&D) capabilities and manufacturing capacity.
It was agreed that six prototypes and around 120 aircraft would be built by 2021 and 2032, respectively. Predictably, the program ran up against (geo)political, technical and fiscal issues.
