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Korea's first domestic fighter jet KF-21 to be exported to Indonesia

Published: 19 Mar. 2026, 18:15 Updated: 21 Mar. 2026, 16:17

CHO YONG-JUN
[email protected]

The KF-21 on a test flight in 2025 [REPULIC OF KOREA KOREAN AIR FORCE]

KF-21, Korea’s first jet fighter built with domestic technology, will be exported to Indonesia.

An export contract agreement is expected to be signed at the end of this month during the visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to Korea, according to Yonhap on Thursday, citing a government source.

A total of 16 KF-21s will be exported to Indonesia, with an official signing ceremony expected to be held in the first half of this year, when the numbers are finalized.

KF-21, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the Agency for Defense Development, is a 4.5-generation fighter jet developed with Korean technologies. Korea previously has typically relied on U.S.-made fighters, with the T-50 Golden Eagle training jet and the FA-50 Fighting Eagle light fighter being the only domestically developed exceptions.

Indonesia has named itself as the co-developer of the KF-21, initially agreeing to fund 20 percent of the development costs in return for technology transfers, but the agreement had seen a series of delays.

Despite agreeing to fund 1.6 trillion won ($1 billon) out of the 8.1 trillion won project, Jakarta cited financial constraints to repeatedly defer payment over several years. Ultimately, the two nations agreed in 2025 to reduce Indonesia’s allotment to 600 billion won, with reduced technology transfers.

The KF-21 is known to be through the development phase and is currently in the production process, manufacturing the first 20 fighter jets for the Korean Air Force. The first 20 jets are expected to be delivered starting this year and be deployed in the second half of next year.

KAI also appointed Kim Jong-chool as the company’s new CEO, holding an inauguration ceremony for the defense firm’s new leader on Thursday. The defense firm had been led by the company’s vice president since former CEO Kang Goo-young’s resignation in July last year. Kim previously worked for the Air Force and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [[email protected]]