A model of KAI's KFX concept
at ADEX 2015 in Seoul
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the Indonesian
government signed an agreement on 22 November to formalise proposed investment
and workshare arrangements to support the development of the Korean Fighter
Experimental (KFX) 4.5-generation fighter aircraft.
The agreement is framed by an
accord signed by the governments of South Korea and Indonesia in October 2014
under which South Korea will pay 80% of the costs associated with the joint
engineering and development phase of the KFX, with Indonesia paying the
remaining 20%.
The newly signed deal, which in
essence reaffirms Indonesia's investment in the project, will become
operational once KAI formally secures the contract with South Korea's Defense
Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to complete the development of KFX
aircraft. KAI was named preferred developer of the KFX in March, and a contract
to undertake the work is expected to be signed before the end of the year.
Under the terms of the newly
announced agreement, Indonesia has agreed to invest about KRW1.7 trillion
(USD1.5 billion) of the total KRW8.7 trillion in KFX development costs.
KAI said that in return for its
investment, Indonesia's state-owned aerospace manufacturer, PT Dirgantara
Indonesia (PTDI), will participate in the design phase of the aircraft and
produce unidentified components. PTDI will also secure rights to some areas of
intellectual property involved in developing the KFX and have access to one of
six planned prototypes.
KAI plans to commence
manufacturing the KFX from 2025. Company officials have previously suggested
that about 250 KFX fighter aircraft could replace the Republic of Korea Air
Force's ageing F-4E Phantom and F-5E Tiger II aircraft and, ultimately, its
F-16 Fighting Falcon platforms. KAI also expects to export several hundred KFX
fighters to countries that include Indonesia.
The KFX is envisaged as a
single-seat, twin-engine, multirole aircraft equipped with stealth features,
active electronically scanned array radar, and internal weapons carriage. Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's
Defence Industry
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