Ambassador Confirms Indonesia Has Settled KF-21 Boramae Costs, Jet Delivery Imminent

Indonesia has settled its contribution payments for the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet prototype project, paving the way for delivery of the 4.5-generation aircraft developed by South Korea. Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Cecep Herawan stated that the joint development of the KF-21 concluded in June 2026 after more than a decade. “The agreement covers six KF-21 aircraft prototypes, one of which will be handed over to Indonesia. Hopefully this can be realised soon,” he said during the ‘Indonesian Next-Generation Journalist Network’ event organised by the Korea Foundation and the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia in Seoul on Tuesday. He added that the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul would discuss the continuation of the KF-21 process, particularly regarding the utilisation of production results. “Going forward, we naturally defer to the decision-makers in Indonesia,” Cecep said. He noted that Indonesia has been one of South Korea’s most important defence industry partners and its first customer since 1979. In 2003, Indonesia purchased KT-1 Woongbi trainer aircraft, now used by the Indonesian Air Force’s Jupiter Aerobatic Team. In 2011, Indonesia also acquired T-50 Golden Eagle jets, and in 2017 the two countries continued cooperation on submarine construction. Cecep also highlighted the importance of knowledge transfer for human resource development in the defence industry. “Korea learned its defence industry from the United States. And we are learning the defence industry that Korea acquired from America. Many off-the-record discussions have taken place where Korean counterparts shared how to properly and less sensitively obtain technology,” he explained. Separately, Kim Gi-Hyeon, chairman of the South Korea-Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship Association, noted that his country’s defence industry offers some of the world’s most technologically advanced weaponry while remaining cost-effective. He pointed to the proven performance of South Korean arms, including fighter jets and missiles involved in conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran-Israel situation. “I believe it would be highly beneficial for Indonesia to strengthen cooperation with Korea. South Korea not only provides technology transfer but also develops and trains human resources to operate and manage these systems,” Kim stated. Indonesia and South Korea have agreed on the handover of a single-seat KF-21 prototype used for verification tests such as aerial refuelling. The transfer, valued at approximately 600 billion won, includes the fighter jet worth 350 billion won along with other development costs.