Alhamdulillah
Need to note that Indonesia is part of developer since the start, it is not license manufacturing. My connection in KFX/IFX team also said that the cooperation in KFX/IFX program is similar like Indonesia cooperation in CN235 as joint developer.
I get called as Idiot by Ananda from DT by saying that KF21/IFX program cooperation is similar like CN 235 LOL.
We all know that Indonesia is junior partner with 20 % stake, I just want to debunk his rumble saying Indonesia cooperation is similar like license production so better license assembling FA50 than cooperating in KF21 program.
That guy is part of the group in Indonesia who dont want to see Indonesian advancement and Alhamdulillah Indonesia is still joining and participating on the program. Contrary to their wish......
Seeing Indonesian Aerospace can be part of KF21 program is already getting many people feel irritated, outside and inside (for some group in Indonesia). They dont want to see Indonesia become part of the program.....
Now I need to explain again about what is the cooperation is all about....
When you develop a plane, you do the engineering development that usually last about 10 years before mass production. That is different with license production. How many times I need to explain to him duh....
Here I will show the engineering process conducted by Indonesian engineers.
What was the design process for the KF-X/IF-X?
Engineers who designed the KF-X/IF-X were divided into several sections, namely configuration, structure, propulsion, systems and aerodynamics.
The engineer working on the configuration section will work first, determining the general dimensions of the aircraft (length, wingspan, etc.), general wing planform, type of empennage, calculations about stealth, armament placement, etc.
When complete, the data will be given to each section for follow-up. For example, in the structural section, engineers must create a wing design based on the limitations created by the configuration engineer (wing length, type of wing planform, wing angle, armament pylon position, etc.) as well as the limitation conditions provided by the aerodynamics engineer.
Apart from that, the structural engineer must determine two different types of materials with different calculations to meet the limits set by the Design Requirements and Objective (DRO), such as the maximum G-load of the aircraft, the maximum weight of weapons that can be carried by each pylon, etc. .
The two types of calculations using different materials will then be given to the DPR (both South Korea and Indonesia) to determine which material will be selected. The selection of materials by the DPR takes many factors into account, starting from the availability of raw resources, the ability to process these raw resources, employment, economic turnover, to cost effectiveness.
What are Indonesia's contributions to the design process?
Indonesia has engineers who work on each part together with South Korean engineers. For example, there are 10 engineers working on structural parts, of which five come from Indonesia. This is done so that Indonesia can gain knowledge from every part that is carried out.
Designing a product must go through the stages of Conceptual Study, Conceptual Design, Preliminary Design, Detailed Design, Prototyping, and finally Mass Production. The Preliminary Design part of the KF-X/IF-X was carried out by engineers who are experienced (40 years and over) and have participated in several previous national strategic projects.
The Preliminary Design stage was successfully completed within 1.5 years.This time is considered very short if you design an aircraft from 0 (starting from scratch) with limited funding. The next stage (detailed design and others) was then continued by engineers from PTDI.
What are Indonesia's advantages compared to South Korea and Indonesia's reciprocity towards the KF-X/IF-X project?
Indonesia has advantages in terms of structure and systems compared to South Korea. Meanwhile, Indonesian experts are in an equal condition in terms of knowledge in the field of composite materials, but Indonesia is behind in terms of manufacturing.
Then, why can South Korea make the T-50 Golden Eagle light trainer jet, but can't make a cargo plane so it has to overhaul the CN-235?
In short, like this, it's like South Korea, through KAI, is an expert in making sports cars (T-50) and Indonesia, through PTDI, is skilled at making transport trucks (CN-235). A company that is skilled at making sports cars may not necessarily be able to make transport trucks because they have different goals and needs even though they are both wheeled land vehicles (in this case planes).KAI itself was able to make the T-50 after receiving assistance from Lockheed-Martin.
Does Indonesia get access to sensitive technology from KF-X/IF-X such as radar, etc.?
No, Indonesia does not get access to sensitive technology from KF-X/IF-X because the sensitive technology comes from third party countries (US, Israel, etc.). While in South Korea, all engineers from Indonesia, including the test pilots who were sent, were under strict supervision by the South Korean NIS (National Intelligence Service).
What contribution does Indonesia have in the production line of the KF-X/IF-X?
Currently, Indonesia has a role in producing components from KF-X/IF-X made from carbon composition, such as components for flight control surfaces.In order to have the ability to produce components from carbon composites, PTDI has purchased two Autoclave machines with diameters of 3-meter and 1.5-meter and equipped with CCA (controlled clean room). This is done so that production from KF-X/IF-X also depends on Indonesia.
Average salary received by Indonesian Engineers who participated in the development of KF-X/IF-X
Because nominal mentions are considered sensitive, what is presented here is a comparison percentage. During the KF-X/IF-X development phase, participating Indonesian Engineers were paid 25% less than South Korean Engineers working on the same part of the program.
Meanwhile, South Korean Engineers are paid 20% less than United States Engineers, which means Indonesian Engineers are paid 40% less than United States Engineers.Even though the salary of Indonesian Engineers involved in the KF-X/IF-X Program looks lower than others, the salary is still 50% higher (1.5x) the salary of Indonesian Aerospace Engineers working on domestic programs.
I want to disclose some of my conversation with my connection on KFX/IFX program.
1. Indonesian KF21 version will be different with Korean version, the development with Indonesian version will be started as soon as KF21 prototype 5 is sent to Indonesian Aerospace. One of the differences for example Indonesian version should be able to land in shorter runway as requirement from our Air Force.
2. Indonesian Aerospace is given task to keep ugrading the KF21 overtime, so the ability to do upgrade is important and this relates to system integration capability that should be enhanced as system integration at this level needs software capability and will be much more independent than Indonesian F16 Falcon Star upgrade. From my connection on Indonesian KFX/IFX team, he said that Falcon Star program conducted in Indonesia is more about plug and instal work while sofware system will be done by Lockheed Martin people.
3. Institute Technology Bandung (ITB) is important in doing fighter jet research in the country. ITB is also involved from day one of KF21 development like shown in my first page with credible Indonesian media (ANGKASA) where ITB lecture is the Indonesian team leader in configuration work package during preliminary design phase (2011-2012). Need to note here that both Indonesian and South Korean will have team leader in each technology packages ( configuration, structure, propulsion, systems and aerodynamics, etc)
Angkasa Online - Majalah Aviasi dan Militer
web.archive.org
4. Indonesian engineers are dominated by senior engineers in the beginning of development that started in 2011 and then slowly replaced by junior engineers. Current phase for example in the time to prepare mass manufacturing, Indonesian engineers are dominated by junior engineers
5. The transition from KF21 block 1 into KF21 block 2 is not a major thing and he said as something natural for any fighter development. KF 21 block 1 can later be upgraded into block 2. (F15 for example starts from superiority fighter and F15 EX become multi role version)
6. What is important to improve Indonesian Aerospace capability in jet fighter technology is through real fighter development and research and development (R&D). Having one prototype in Indonesian Aerospace is essential as the plane can be used for real fighter development. In Aerospace engineering that plane is named as test bed plane (experimental).
7. Some of knowledge and experience gathered in KF21/IFX program is also used for MALE UCAV Elang Hitam (Black Eagle) development program.
This is my take from my connection to the Indonesian senior engineer from KFX/IFX program.
