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RI gets 16 new Korean trainer jets
The Indonesian Air Force officially received on Thursday 16 new South Korean T-50i jet trainers worth US$400 million, as the government attempts to modernize the countryâs weapons system
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he Indonesian Air Force officially received on Thursday 16 new South Korean T-50i jet trainers worth US$400 million, as the government attempts to modernize the country's weapons system.
Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) gave the jets to the Indonesian Defense Ministry, which then handed them over to the Air Force during a ceremony at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base (AFB).
KAI completed the delivery of the jets between September 2013 and February 2014 after signing the deal in May 2011.
'These jets will be for the 15th Squadron [at the Iswahjudi AFB] in Madiun, East Java. They will boost the military's role in carrying out more complex tasks in the future,' Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.
The T50i is a lift-in fighter trainer (LIFT) jet that can also be used in light combat/attack roles.
'As fighter jets, T-50i have the agility, practicality and ability to use weapons in multi-role missions,' Air Force chief spokesman Air Cmdr. Hadi Tjahjanto said. 'The jets are designed to attack ground targets and for day and night aerial combat in all weathers. They have a maximum speed of Mach 1.5, around 1,600 kilometers per hour.'
He added that the jets came with a 20-millimeter, three-barreled Gatling cannon that could fire 2,000 rounds per minute.
Also attending the event were President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, KAI president Ha Sung-yong and South Korean Air Force chief of staff Sung Il-hwan.
Both Purnomo and Ha were upbeat about proceeding with a plan to build a fighter aircraft jointly developed with South Korea, dubbed the IFX/KFX, after it was postponed by Korea.
'The Korean Air Force chief of staff and representative from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration [DAPA], on behalf of the [Korean] government, have stated their willingness to proceed with the program,' Purnomo said.
Both countries signed a letter of intent in 2009 that was followed up by a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by then president Lee Myung-bak and Yudhoyono in 2010.
The deal states Indonesia will pay 20 percent of the $5 billion development cost, with the other 80 percent paid by the South Korean side.
'I believe the project will be a success,' Ha said, referring to the IFX/KFX, intended to be a light/medium fighter in the F-16 class.
The Air Force already uses the KT-1B Wong Bee turboprop trainer aircraft in the 102nd Training Squadron, also made by KAI.
