Finally, Indonesian journalist, which is now represented by Kompas, the most respected Indonesian print media beside Tempo, makes a long report about KF 21/IFX program by using our own source (
Bappenas Head (Minister of Planning), Ministry of Defense spoke person,
Finance Ministry spokesperson, Foreign Ministry high official and spokesperson ) instead of just translating Korean media like Yonhap. Although a bit confusing as in the end of the report, Kompas put Reuters/AFP as source.
I have urged Indonesian journalist to be more creative in making news about KF21/IFX, something that should be easily done since many good sources can be used to make the report from PTDI, Defense Ministery, Bappenas, Minister of Finance, ITB lectures and former Air Force generals/ pilots.
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Coming from Google Translate and the photo comes from other source since I cannot copy paste all of their infographic and pictures posted in the report.
By B JOSIE SUSILO HARDIANTO
21 November 2021 07:51 WIB·
KF-21 “Game Changer” Project
South Korea together with Indonesia developed a fighter aircraft now named KF-21 Boramae. The move can be a milestone towards independence.
Proudly, South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition or ADEX sitting in the back seat of an FA-50 fighter jet. In front of hundreds of invited guests in attendance, Moon expressed his pride in the FA-50's performance. He praised his state -made fighter jets.
"I can feel the greatness of the FA-50 that we developed with our own technology," said Moon. He further stressed that it was time for the South Korean arms industry to become a global leader. He also expressed his support for the strengthening of the South Korean military which aims to build defense forces and cultivate peace.
The statement cannot be separated from the awareness of the situation and challenges in the region. For the record, before ADEX was held, in mid -October North Korea tested their ballistic missiles.
To support the strengthening of the domestic alutsista industry, South Korea has set aside at least 80 percent of its budget for the purchase of alutsista and its spare parts from domestic manufacturers. Its main focus is on a number of areas needed for future wars, such as artificial intelligence, drones, robots, and space.
"We envision a smart, but strong military based on advanced science and technology, and promote peace together with the international community," Moon added.
On the other hand, independence in the field of defense also boosted the South Korean foreign exchange. Based on data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the value of South Korean arms exports in the period 2016-2020 increased 210 percent higher than the export value of the period 2011-2015. Indonesia is one of the major users of South Korean products, including the KT-1 Woongbi, T-50i Golden Eagle, Changbogo submarine, and LPD.
Read also:
RI-South Korea Continues Manufacture of KFX Fighter Aircraft
Related to defense cooperation, since 2014, Seoul and Jakarta have agreed to develop a 4.5-generation fighter aircraft, the KFX-IFX. Last April, at the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), President Moon led the launch ceremony of the KFX prototype. In the ceremony attended by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, KFX got a new name, KF-21 Boramae.
In the future, the Boramae developed to replace the US-made F-4 and F-5 will be the backbone of the South Korean Air Force. Despite the class difference and not as sophisticated as the US-made F-35, the technology embedded in the GE414-400K engine aircraft is quite qualified. In addition to the AESA radar developed by Hanwha Systems, Boramae is also projected to be capable of carrying a long -range missile, the Meteor.
Boramae, which is one of the milestones of South Korean military technology, marks what Moon calls a new era of South Korean national defense independence. "Whenever we need it, we can make it," Moon said.
That independence made South Korea not only profitable strategically, but also economically. In addition to increasing the capacity and capability of the domestic defense industry, exports of military products also spur economic growth. Dependence on the US as the main supplier of defense equipment to Seoul can also be gradually reduced.
Indonesia's involvement in the KF-21 project for a number of parties in the country is expected to trigger the same hope. Indonesia has become more independent in fulfilling defense equipment/weapons, including strategic defense equipment/ weapons.
Once covered in uncertainty since 2018 due to stagnation in funding, Indonesia at the beginning of this month finally agreed to continue to be involved in the development of the project. After a lengthy negotiation process, in addition to being exempted from the payment of value added tax on Boramae, which will become part of Indonesia, the payment by Jakarta for the project was also revised to 1.35 billion US dollars.
Independence
For some, the long -term sustainability of the project is a relief. The reason is, until now, for the fulfillment of fighter jets, Indonesia still depends on other countries. Indonesia is currently in the process of discussing the procurement of Rafale from France and F-15EX from the United States.
In a written reply sent to Kompas, the Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Defense (Ministry of Defense) mentioned that for the Rafale fighter aircraft procurement agreement, the Ministry is still waiting for the determination of the source of funding from the Ministry of Finance. For the procurement of F-15EX, the current position is still in the negotiation stage between the US and Indonesia.
Read also:
RI-South Korea Continues Manufacture of KFX Fighter Aircraft
With the Rafale and F-15EX procurement plans, the F-16 Viper purchase plan will be diverted to the F-15EX procurement. Related to SU-35, as reported, although the purchase contract has been signed, so far it is still constrained by CAATSA and OFAC sanctions from the US.
No wonder if the continuity of the KF-21/IFX development process can open the door of hope. Moreover, as conveyed by the Public Relations Bureau of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Finance, the continuation of cooperation refers to the decision of President Joko Widodo. The cooperation is expected to be implemented in real steps to increase Indonesia's ability to build its infrastructure independently.
In the KF-21/IFX project, the national defense industry involved is PT Dirgantara Indonesia. "As a result of initial discussions with South Korea, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero) asked to be the sole supplier (50 percent) of wings, tails, and other parts or (pylons)," said the Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a separate interview, Bappenas Chief Suharso Monoarfa assessed the importance of the national defense industry's involvement in defense equipment procurement. Indonesia, according to him, has experience in making airplanes.
In addition to being able to design aircraft platforms, including the CN235 and N250, Indonesia is currently in the global supply chain for Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer. Indonesia, according to Suharso, has a capacity that cannot be underestimated.
Referring to the development of the N250, Indonesia has mastered aircraft design since the 1990s. Indonesia was even able to fly the N250, which has the ability to fly by wire, in August 1995. The aircraft was 100 percent built by Indonesian experts.
Also read:
F-16 Viper, F-15EX, Rafale, or SU-35
"Making the aircraft that is important is the design, avionics, radar, electricity, etc. will adapt to the design and construction of the aircraft," said Suharso.
Regarding KF-21/IFX, Suharso argued that Indonesia also wants to have the strength to build its defense industry. On the other hand, according to him, there is a need for appropriate and wide spatial support for Indonesian researchers and experts to develop themselves.
KOMPAS/ANGGER PUTRANTO
A number of F-16 aircraft maneuvered in the TNI Joint Exercise entitled Dharma Yudha 2019 in Situbondo, Wednesday (11/9/2019). As many as 12,000 soldiers from three levels of the TNI held a war simulation rehearsal based on the integration of communications via satellite or known as Network Centric Warfare.
Military technology engineering, according to him, such as passive radar, to design and build aircraft can be used for civilian interests, such as mitigation and disaster response. In addition, Indonesia also needs to maintain the sustainability of the technology it already has, including fighter aircraft technology obtained from the ownership of F-16s and T-50s.
Trust
In the perspective of international cooperation, sustainability is important to build mutual trust, both bilaterally and globally. Referring to the data of the Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM), the realization of investment from South Korea is uphill.
In the first quarter of 2021, South Korean investment realization ranked third after Singapore and China. Its value reached 851.1 million US dollars, higher than the realization of US and Japanese investments, which were 447.1 million US dollars and 322.7 million US dollars, respectively. That achievement cannot be separated from the close Special Strategic Partnership between Indonesia and South Korea.
Contacted separately, the Director General of Asia Pacific and Africa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Kadir Jailani, said that opportunities for cooperation with South Korea in the field of defense or alutsista remained wide open. "One of them can be seen from the continuation of the joint fighter aircraft project, which involves national strategic industries. In addition to the field of technology, cooperation is also open to increase human resources in the field, "said Kadir through a message sent through the WhatsApp service.
As BKPM's positive note, Kadir said, the strength of the cooperation was also seen in the realization of South Korean investment in Indonesia. Citing BKPM data, Kadir said that in the second quarter of this year, South Korea's direct investment rose again to 1.1 billion US dollars.
"The increase in South Korean investment in Indonesia is inseparable from the high priority of South Korea towards Indonesia, especially as a special strategic partner. South Korea's New Southern Policy is indeed aimed at increasing cooperation with ASEAN countries, "said Kadir added.
Not surprisingly, the development of KF-21/IFX is expected to be part of the concrete steps of the partnership. In addition, this project could also be an opportunity for Indonesia to go higher independently.
(AFP/Reuters)
Korea Selatan bersama Indonesia mengembangkan pesawat tempur yang kini dinamai KF-21 Boramae. Langkah itu dapat menjadi tonggak pencapaian menuju kemandirian.
www.kompas.id
www.airbus.com
