KAI seeks to enhance Indonesian relationship through KT-1, T-50 collaboration

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) intends to build its presence in Indonesia through collaboration with local industry following deals to export KT-1 basic trainers and T-50 advanced trainer jets to the Southeast Asian country.

Noh Sun-park, KAI senior executive vice-president, told IHS Jane's on 9 November at the Indo Defence Expo & Forum in Jakarta that the company sees opportunities in Indonesia to export its Surion utility helicopter and to collaborate further on the co-development of the proposed next-generation KF-X fighter aircraft.

These projects are linked to the industrial collaboration programme that developed between KAI and state-owned PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) on the production of 17 KT-1 aircraft and the co-operation that is being finalised in relation to the production of the 16 T-50 aircraft that Indonesia ordered in 2011.

"We want to expand our footprint in Indonesia but at the moment the scale is too small and economically it is not yet worthwhile," Noh said. "We have proposed to PTDI that they re-assemble the T-50 here in Indonesia and undertake some other production activities: this is similar to the KT-1 programme. However, the workshare programme on the T-50 is not yet finalised and we are talking this through."