Indonesia - South Korea to Continue Enhancing Defence Industry Cooperation

13 November 2017

KT-1B training aircraft (photo : Aerobatic Team)

Moon, Jokowi go ‘blusukan’

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his host President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo spent some time at a shopping center in Bogor, West Java, after their inaugural bilateral meeting.

Jokowi and Moon bought batik shirts before sipping hot jasmine tea from a small beverage stall at Bogor Trade Mall.

The blusukan (impromptu) visit on Thursday reflected the closeness of the two countries, which have agreed to enhance their ties.

The two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement in December 2006.

KAI T/A-50 fighter trainer aircraft (photo : Yandi B Kurniawan)

Earlier during their meeting at Bogor Palace, both leaders pledged to work for closer ties, targeting US$30 billion in two-way trade by 2022, and they urged North Korea to stop its nuclear program.
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The presidents agreed that trade and investment are important vehicles for development in South Korea and Indonesia.

After the meeting, the presidents witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoU) in transportation, industrial and medical sectors. The MoU were signed by the relevant ministers from both countries.

Jokowi and Moon also agreed that the special strategic partnership would involve the political and security sectors.
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KFX/IFX fighter aircraft (photo : Alvis Jean)

Moon and Jokowi reaffirmed that cooperation in the defense industry was a symbol of mutual trust. They said they were determined to continue enhancing defense industry cooperation, with stronger emphasis on capacity building, research and development and joint production.

Moon also said South Korea would “continue to support” development of the KFX/IFX jet fighter that is under development by the two countries.

The KFX/IFX is a twin-engined 4.5 generation fighter jet, described as having capabilities above the venerable F-16 Fighting Falcon, but below the stealthy F-35 Lightning II, both of which are made by US defense company Lockheed Martin.

Indonesia bears 20 percent of the development cost and the remainder is covered by South Korea.

Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Makassar Class LPD (photo : Koarmatim)

Indonesia is also the first foreign user of South Korean-made single-engined KT-1B Woong Bee turboprop trainers and singleengined T/A-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainers.

For its part, Indonesia has sold CN-235 medium transport aircraft to both South Korea’s air force and coast guard.

Other defense industry cooperation includes the acquisition of three submarines made by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, the third of which is to be assembled at the state-owned PT PAL shipyard in Surabaya.

DSME Type 209-1400 submarine (photo : poskota)

Previously, South Korea provided transfer-of-technology in the construction of four landing platform docks (LPD). Two LPDs were made in South Korea and the other two in Surabaya.

South Korea, Indonesia agree to elevate ties to special strategic partnership Two-way trade projected to reach $30b by 2020.

South Korea is seeking to enhance its economic relations with Indonesia, particularly in trade and investment, as it tries to exert greater influence in Southeast Asia.

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See full article The Jakarta Post