South Korea will transfer a prototype of the KF-21 Boramae fighter to Indonesia as part of the program agreement, within the framework of bilateral cooperation for the joint development of the new combat aircraft. This decision was formalized following an understanding reached at the technical level between both countries, with the objective of organizing the scheme of contributions, technology, and compensations linked to the KF-21 project.
According to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the agreement establishes a transfer package valued at 600 billion won, a figure that matches the final contribution that Indonesia committed to cover within the development program. Documents submitted to the National Defense Committee indicated that this amount includes the transfer of the fifth KF-21 prototype, a single-seat model, along with development data, research costs, and associated technological components.
The fifth KF-21 prototype, valued at approximately 350 billion won, made its first flight in May 2023 and since then has been used to validate key systems, including the active electronically scanned array radar and aerial refueling tests. The package also includes 174.2 billion won allocated to technology transfer and funding for local research personnel, as well as 75.8 billion won corresponding to technical documentation of the program.
Indonesia had initially agreed to finance around 20% of the total development cost, a figure that amounted to about 1.6 trillion won; however, it delayed payments due to its internal economic situation. As a result, South Korea redefined Indonesia’s contribution to 600 billion won and evaluated the possibility of including the transfer of a prototype as a compensation mechanism. To date, Indonesia has paid 536 billion won and plans to complete the remaining 64 billion before June.
Once the total payment is confirmed, DAPA plans to determine the timing for the transfer of the prototype and the complete package of development data. The transfer will form part of the administrative closure of the industrial and technological cooperation scheme established by both countries for the KF-21 program, considered one of South Korea’s most relevant defense projects.
In line with these developments, at the end of March KAI officially presented the first production KF-21 destined for the South Korean Air Force, consolidating a new stage within the program. During the ceremony, the South Korean government highlighted the importance of the milestone by stating: “Beyond the skies of Korea, to the skies of the world.” It also noted that the development of the aircraft was the result of “25 long years and the effort and dedication of many people,” emphasizing that the new systems “will protect the airspace of the Republic of Korea” and will contribute to regional stability, within the framework of a strategy aimed at strengthening “self-reliant national defense.”
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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