Indonesia's state-owned PTDI to produce KF-21 airframe parts; Indonesian Air Force pursues deal to acquire 16 aircraft

[JAKARTA, Indonesia—Correspondent Aulia Maulida Hamdani] Indonesia's state-owned aerospace company, Indonesian Aerospace (PTDI), has signed an Industrial Cooperation Agreement (ICA) with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and will begin producing airframe components for the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet.
According to local media on the 21st, Heber MF Panjaitan, PTDI's vice president for business development and marketing, said at the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) fair held on the 19th near the National Monument in central Jakarta, "Through the ICA, PTDI will produce 15% of the KF-21's airframe components." He added, "On this basis, we are also pursuing the Indonesian Air Force's acquisition of the KF-21."
PTDI and KAI are currently pursuing a contract with Indonesia's Ministry of Defense for the acquisition of 16 KF-21 aircraft. The contract is estimated to be worth approximately $2.9 billion, or about 4.01 trillion won, with the first three aircraft expected to be delivered in late 2028 or early 2029.
The ICA is a follow-up measure after PTDI and KAI completed the KF-21's Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) phase in May. With the EMD phase complete, the KF-21 has laid the groundwork for entering mass production and commercialization.
PTDI expects the KF-21 acquisition to strengthen its aerospace manufacturing capabilities as well. KAI plans to invest approximately $100 million, or about 138.32 billion won, to modernize production facilities at a Ministry of Defense-owned hangar in Bandung, Indonesia.
Panjaitan said, "We will modernize all production equipment, and KAI will support the development of composite-manufacturing capabilities." He added, "In particular, Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technology, which is important in the aerospace industry, is key."
AFP is an automated manufacturing technology that uses a robotic arm to precisely lay carbon-fiber material onto a mold. In addition to providing the relevant equipment, KAI plans to train dozens of PTDI technicians and engineers to acquire the necessary skills and obtain certification.
Panjaitan said, "It is highly significant that PTDI can strengthen its aerospace manufacturing capabilities while Indonesia acquires 16 KF-21 aircraft."
Meanwhile, the joint KF-21 development program began in 2010, when South Korea and Indonesia agreed to jointly develop a 4.5-generation fighter. Indonesia joined the program by covering 20% of the development costs in exchange for technology transfers and the right to produce fighters for its air force. It successfully completed the first flight of a KF-21 prototype in 2022.
With the signing of the ICA, the KF-21 program has moved beyond joint research and development and entered a stage of expanding cooperation to local production in Indonesia and the strengthening of aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
[email protected] Aulia Maulida Hamdani, Correspondent Reporter