Indonesia Begins Negotiations to Overtake the Philippines in KF-21 Fighter Jet Queue

Indonesia has urgently initiated new negotiations to purchase South Korean KF-21 Block-2 fighter jets to avoid falling behind the Philippines in the production queue.

The Korean media Global e-News reported on this.

The decision to initiate talks on the acquisition of 16 KF-21 Block-2 aircraft is driven by an external factor: the Philippines’ consideration of purchasing the jets.

It’s not just about filling gaps in combat capabilities, but also a strategic calculation – to secure production slots. Since the Philippines is considering the KF-21 as one of the main candidates for its multi-role fighter program, Indonesia has become concerned that it may end up behind in the queue.

Although the country still faces difficulties paying its share of the fighter jet’s development costs, the current approach is to sign a contract to purchase existing versions of the aircraft to ensure priority in production.

This move is explained by Indonesia’s desire to continue modernizing its Air Force, which began with the acquisition of Rafale jets, and by its intention to maintain a defense-industrial cooperation channel with South Korea.

The Block-2 version that Indonesia is considering is the next stage after Block-1, which is currently being supplied to the South Korean Air Force. Block-1 is primarily focused on “air-to-air” missions, whereas Block-2 is a fully multirole version capable of striking ground targets. It includes integrating precision-guided weapons and upgrading radar and electronic warfare systems.

KF-21

The KF-21 is a twin-engine supersonic aircraft measuring 13 meters in length, 4.5 meters in height, and 14 meters in wingspan. Versions are planned for both single-pilot and two-pilot crews.

It is a joint project between the Republic of Korea and Indonesia, with a 80%:20 % split in participation. Initially, Indonesia agreed to contribute 20% of the total development cost in exchange for a couple of prototypes and technology for aircraft production in Indonesia. However, during the development process, the country repeatedly delayed its payments, leading to several withdrawals from the project, followed by its return.

In June 2024, it was announced that South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) had signed a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the production of 20 KF-21 aircraft, valued at $1.4 billion. The initial plans include producing 40 aircraft by 2028 and 120 by 2032.

In the long term, South Korea plans to gradually upgrade the KF-21 to a full-fledged fifth-generation fighter. This will involve improvements to sensors, electronic warfare systems, stealth technologies, and the integration of weapons into the aircraft’s internal bays.

The Philippines expressed interest in the KF-21 fighter jet in May 2024. However, no official announcement has been made regarding a purchase. Competing for the role of a potential aircraft are the American F-16V fighter jet from Lockheed Martin, as well as the Swedish Saab Gripen.