16 units of Block 2? so assuming they start delivering to the KAF in September and block 2 upgrades start somewhere in 2028- so optimistically the IDAF sees their squadron maybe 2029?They have reduced their order from 48 units, to 16 units.
Indonesia Moves to Revive KF-21 Boramae Partnership With Proposed Purchase of 16 Block II Fighters - Defence Security Asia
Jakarta explores export-credit financing and a squadron-sized acquisition of 16 KF-21 Block II fighters to restore a long-stalled partnership with South Korea while strengthening TNI-AU airpower.defencesecurityasia.com
Indonesia has been a problematic development partner due to financial issues.
IFX Indonesian Fighter Experiment (KF21/IFX program)
- Thread starter Indos
- Start date
considering recent escalations in SEA, I am sure they need the KF21 urgently so even a small order is better than waiting for local production deliveries
that makes a lot of sense actually, thanks for clarifying.
Do you think there will be potential issues with the avionics supply? I heard the KF21 uses foreign avionics that locals werent allowed to work on
Indos
INT'L MOD
- Thread starter
- #320
AESA radar and some avionics are provided by Korean companies like Hanwa and LG1
I dont think there is any problem on avionics. The Indonesian side is also now pushing for Indonesian avionics company to supply some avionics as well.
They already prepare Indonesian developed avionics for IFX as well but it let to negotiation on whether InfoGlobal can enter IFX program. If not so it is likely temporary and InfoGlobal can fokus on the Korean trainer where its manufacturing is now in Indonesian aerospace ( KAI likely want to have more extra space for more KF21 production line)
Indos
INT'L MOD
- Thread starter
- #322
South Korea, Indonesia near fighter jet deal
Posted February. 25, 2026 08:11
Updated February. 25, 2026 08:11
2023 Demo
Following Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is expected to pay a state visit to South Korea in April, government sources said. As U.S.-led protectionist policies intensify and U.S.-China trade tensions persist, Seoul is accelerating summit diplomacy with key partners in the Global South, including South America and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to diversify its supply chains. The two sides are also reported to have made progress on an additional export contract for South Korea’s domestically developed KF-21 Boramae supersonic fighter jet, a central issue in bilateral relations.
According to the presidential office on Feb. 24, Seoul and Jakarta are coordinating details of Prabowo’s visit. A plan had previously been discussed for him to visit Japan and South Korea after attending China’s Victory Day military parade in September last year, but the trip was canceled amid intensifying anti-government protests in Indonesia. A separate proposal for a December visit also fell through.
2024 Demo
Seoul regards expanded economic cooperation with Indonesia, the largest economy and most populous country in ASEAN, as strategically significant. Indonesia serves as a major production and investment base in Southeast Asia for South Korean companies and is the world’s largest supplier of nickel, a critical mineral used in electric vehicle batteries and a growing focus of competition between the United States and China. By restricting exports of raw ore and promoting domestic processing industries, Indonesia has positioned itself as a pivotal player in the global battery supply chain.
An agreement for Indonesia to acquire 48 KF-21 fighter jets in batches of 16 is reportedly close to being finalized.
2025 demo
Jakarta initially signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase the 48 aircraft upon completion of the joint development program. However, it later adopted a more cautious stance, concluding separate agreements to buy France’s Dassault Rafale and Turkey’s TAI Kaan fighter jets. Indonesia, a partner in the KF-21 development project, had originally pledged to contribute 1.6 trillion won but later reduced its commitment to 600 billion won, saying it would scale back its payment in exchange for a proportional reduction in technology transfers.
Meanwhile, Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, who also serves as special presidential envoy for strategic economic cooperation, departed for the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 24. Kang is expected to discuss follow-up measures to the bilateral summit held in November last year, including expanded cooperation in the defense industry, artificial intelligence and nuclear energy.
Kyu-Jin Shin [email protected]
South Korea, Indonesia near fighter jet deal
Following Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is e…
www.donga.com
Ah my bad I misunderstood the avionics supplier- Israel's Elta contributed to the design of the AESA and Elbit provided just the TA radar, I assumed Elta and Elbit were supplying all the avionics.
Development of the KF-21’s AESA radar dates back to 2016, as part of a strategic South Korean effort to reduce external technological dependence in critical combat systems. In March 2023, Hanwha Systems reported that it had successfully installed and tested an AESA radar on one of the KF-21 prototypes, confirming progress in the program.
The initiative emerged in part as a response to restrictions imposed by the United States on the transfer of sensitive technologies. In that context, South Korean companies pursued international cooperation agreements, such as the one signed in 2021 with Israel’s Elta Systems, which contributed to the design and supported the manufacture of the first radar prototypes.
Source
“Elbit Systems” announced today that it was awarded a $43 million contract from Hanwha Systems Co. Ltd. (272210:Korea SE) to equip the Next Generation Korean fighter jets in development, with embedded Terrain Following-Terrain Avoidance (TF/TA) systems. The contract will be performed over a six-year period.
Source: Elbit UK
Indos
INT'L MOD
- Thread starter
- #324
Nope, Elta only contribute on the radar prototype testing. The AESA radar is developed by Hanwa.
Hanwha Systems manufactures first AESA radar for KF-21 aircraft
South Korea's Hanwha Systems has manufactured the first active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAF's) future KF-21...
www.janes.com
Regarding Elbit, it is as it is since Korea dont develop all components. They chose Elbit for terrain avoidance. No problemo. Indonesia as co developer can actually chose different components if we face restriction in using certain components, and this is one of the reasons of why Indonesia wants to have one test bed plane for IFX development in the country.
Indos
INT'L MOD
- Thread starter
- #325
South Korea unveils indigenous AESA radar prototype for KF-X fighter
By Dae Young Kim |07 August 2020
South Korea has unveiled an indigenous active electronically scanned-array (AESA) radar prototype for use by the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (RoKAF’s) next-generation multirole fighter aircraft, which is being developed under the Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X) programme.
The radar, which has been under development since 2016 by South Korean company Hanwha Systems and the country’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD), was unveiled in a ceremony held on 7 August, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
The radar will now undergo further ground performance and installation tests before being integrated with the first KF-X prototype for further testing, said South Korean officials, adding that Elta Systems – a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) – has collaborated on the programme and is assisting with the testing phase.
South Korea unveils indigenous AESA radar prototype for KF-X fighter
South Korea has unveiled an indigenous active electronically scanned-array (AESA) radar prototype for use by the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (RoKAF’s) next-generation...
www.janes.com
Indos
INT'L MOD
- Thread starter
- #326
[Exclusive] First Mass-Produced Korean Fighter Jet KF-21 to Be Unveiled on the 25th This Month
Herald Economy | Naver
1–2 minutes
KF-21 Boramae scheduled for operational deployment in the second half of this year
KAI expected to appoint Kim Jong-chul as president at shareholders’ meeting on the 18th
[Herald Economy = Reporter Yoon Ho] — The first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae, South Korea’s domestically developed fighter jet designed to defend the country’s airspace, will be unveiled to the public for the first time on the 25th of this month.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is reportedly planning to hold a shareholders’ meeting on the 18th ahead of the rollout ceremony, where Kim Jong-chul is expected to be elected as the company’s new president.
According to multiple military sources and defense industry officials on the 6th, KAI will hold the rollout ceremony for the first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae on the 25th at its headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.
The Boramae project, which aims to develop a 4.5-generation supersonic fighter jet using domestic technology, is a joint international research and development program between South Korea and Indonesia. The project runs from 2015 to 2028 with a total investment of 8.1 trillion won, aiming to replace aging F-4 and F-5 fighter jets in the South Korean Air Force.
After the design was finalized in 2019 and final assembly began in September 2020, the first prototype was rolled out in April 2021. The name KF-21 Boramae was selected through a public naming contest.
Development costs are now expected to decrease from the originally planned 8.1 trillion won to about 7.6 trillion won due to cost-saving measures.
The first mass-produced KF-21, along with subsequent production aircraft, is scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force and deployed operationally starting in the second half of this year.
The KF-21 has already attracted significant interest in the global defense market, thanks to its strong technological capabilities and competitive pricing. The Block I production contract price is reportedly around 120 billion won per aircraft, roughly half the cost of comparable fighter jets, which are typically priced at about 200 billion won per aircraft.
In the Block III (KF-21EX) phase, the aircraft is expected to feature enhanced stealth capabilities, including an internal weapons bay, improved sensors, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.
Meanwhile, KAI’s eight-month leadership vacancy is also expected to be resolved soon. Last month, the company nominated Kim Jong-chul, former Director General of the Defense Technology Protection Bureau at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), as its new CEO.
The appointment is expected to be finalized through the shareholders’ meeting and board meeting on the 18th.
Kim is a graduate of the Air Force Academy (Class 31) and was specially recruited as a Grade-4 official when DAPA was established in 2006. He previously served as Head of the Defense Export Support Team, Director of Offset Trade, Director of Planning and Coordination, and Director General of the Defense Technology Protection Bureau.
n.news.naver.com
Herald Economy | Naver
1–2 minutes
KF-21 Boramae scheduled for operational deployment in the second half of this year
KAI expected to appoint Kim Jong-chul as president at shareholders’ meeting on the 18th
[Herald Economy = Reporter Yoon Ho] — The first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae, South Korea’s domestically developed fighter jet designed to defend the country’s airspace, will be unveiled to the public for the first time on the 25th of this month.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is reportedly planning to hold a shareholders’ meeting on the 18th ahead of the rollout ceremony, where Kim Jong-chul is expected to be elected as the company’s new president.
According to multiple military sources and defense industry officials on the 6th, KAI will hold the rollout ceremony for the first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae on the 25th at its headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.
The Boramae project, which aims to develop a 4.5-generation supersonic fighter jet using domestic technology, is a joint international research and development program between South Korea and Indonesia. The project runs from 2015 to 2028 with a total investment of 8.1 trillion won, aiming to replace aging F-4 and F-5 fighter jets in the South Korean Air Force.
After the design was finalized in 2019 and final assembly began in September 2020, the first prototype was rolled out in April 2021. The name KF-21 Boramae was selected through a public naming contest.
Development costs are now expected to decrease from the originally planned 8.1 trillion won to about 7.6 trillion won due to cost-saving measures.
The first mass-produced KF-21, along with subsequent production aircraft, is scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force and deployed operationally starting in the second half of this year.
The KF-21 has already attracted significant interest in the global defense market, thanks to its strong technological capabilities and competitive pricing. The Block I production contract price is reportedly around 120 billion won per aircraft, roughly half the cost of comparable fighter jets, which are typically priced at about 200 billion won per aircraft.
In the Block III (KF-21EX) phase, the aircraft is expected to feature enhanced stealth capabilities, including an internal weapons bay, improved sensors, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.
Meanwhile, KAI’s eight-month leadership vacancy is also expected to be resolved soon. Last month, the company nominated Kim Jong-chul, former Director General of the Defense Technology Protection Bureau at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), as its new CEO.
The appointment is expected to be finalized through the shareholders’ meeting and board meeting on the 18th.
Kim is a graduate of the Air Force Academy (Class 31) and was specially recruited as a Grade-4 official when DAPA was established in 2006. He previously served as Head of the Defense Export Support Team, Director of Offset Trade, Director of Planning and Coordination, and Director General of the Defense Technology Protection Bureau.
[단독] 한국형전투기 KF-21 1호기 이달 말 나온다
KF-21 보라매 올해 하반기 실전배치 계획 KAI 18일 주주총회 김종출 사장 선출할 듯 조립 중인 KF-21 최초양산 1호기. [방사청 제공] [헤럴드경제=윤호 기자] 국내 개발 생산돼 대한민국 영공을 수호할 한
n.news.naver.com
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