A prototype for the KF-21 fighter jet manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is seen in this photo provided by the Korean aircraft maker on Jan. 10, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Indonesian engineers have been under investigation over allegedly stealing technologies related to the KF-21 fighter jet under development, the state-run procurement agency said Friday.
The engineers dispatched to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are under suspicion of storing data on KF-21 development on a USB, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
“A joint investigation composed of related agencies, including the National Intelligence Service, is currently under way to look into the circumstances of the Indonesians’ alleged technology theft,” a DAPA official told reporters.
The probe is focused on whether the stored data contains strategic technologies related to the KF-21 development program, according to sources familiar with the issue. The Indonesians are currently banned from leaving South Korea.
Indonesia, a partner country of the KF-21 fighter jet development project, has failed to shoulder 20 percent of the project’s cost of 8.8 trillion won (US$6.5 billion), raising questions over its commitment over the program launched in 2015.
Indonesia is estimated to have paid 278.3 billion won for the project so far and is behind in payments by nearly 1 trillion won.
South Korea plans to begin production of the KF-21 fighter jets later this year, with the aim of deploying 120 KF-21s by 2032.
(Yonhap)
