Analysts have called for enhanced defense cooperation between South Korea and Indonesia beyond military procurement, considering 40 years of dynamic relations between the two.

Boo Hyeong-wook, an analyst at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) said that aside from maintaining robust defense trade, the two nations should enhance knowledge transfer and joint exercises in more security spectrums.

'€œIn the future, we can work together in peacekeeping and disaster relief operations and also in combating cyber crime and piracy,'€ Boo told the 2013 South Korea '€” Indonesia Security & Defense Seminar on Thursday.

He noted that the defense cooperation of both nations had focused on military procurement, with Indonesia becoming a major customer of South Korean defense products.

Indonesian Defense Ministry secretary-general Lt. Gen. Budiman expected that Indonesia should not be a mere buyer but called for closer industrial cooperation.

'€œPerhaps in the future some of the Korean defense firms could relocate to Indonesia,'€ he told the seminar.

'€œBy having a presence in Indonesia, Korea would have closer access to the ASEAN defense market, which is quite lucrative.'€

He also said a road map was needed to strengthen defense industrial cooperation between both countries.

Data from the Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration shows that Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has delivered 17 KT-1 single turboprop basic trainers to Indonesia, worth US$91 million.

In May 2011, Indonesia signed a $400 million deal to procure 16 units of T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainers from KAI.

In December 2011, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) won a $1.1 billion contract to manufacture three 1,400-ton U-209 diesel-electric submarines.

The University of Indonesia'€™s defense expert, Andi Widjajanto, suggested that Indonesia should use its close ties with South Korea to improve local defense industries.

'€œSouth Korea gives the chance to our defense industries to have an integrated weaponry platform,'€ he said on the sidelines of the seminar.

'€œWe can count on Daewoo for submarines and warships. KAI can cooperate with state aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia [PT DI]. We can work with the manufacturers of K-21 tanks,'€ Andi said.

Budiman also now expected South Korea to resume the joint development of the KFX/IFX jet fighter program.

The project'€™s letter of intent was signed in 2009 and concluded the technology development phase.

Five prototypes of the jet fighter are expected to be rolled-out by 2020.

The $5 billion venture is reportedly being delayed until September 2014 due to the leadership transition from President Lee Myung-bak to Park Geun-hye.

Popular

Undoing the sweet aftermath of Eid festivities

Indonesia may offer dual citizenship to attract overseas workers

Indonesia may offer dual citizenship to attract overseas workers, minister says