Indonesian engineers are being investigated for allegedly stealing technologies related to the KF-21 “Boramae” fighter jet during its development phase.
According to Yonhap News, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) reported that Indonesian engineers sent to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are suspected of storing data on the development of the KF-21 on a USB device.
“A joint investigation composed of related agencies, including the National Intelligence Service, is currently underway to investigate the circumstances of the alleged technology theft by the Indonesians,” a DAPA official told reporters.
The investigation is focused on clarifying whether the stored data contains strategic technologies related to the KF-21 development program, according to sources familiar with the matter. The suspected Indonesians are currently banned from leaving South Korea.
Indonesia, a partner country in the KF-21 fighter development project, has been reneging for years on its commitments to assume 20 percent of the project’s cost, while at the same time it is proceeding with the purchase of French Rafale fighters and negotiating with the U.S. for the possible acquisition of 24 F-15EXs.
The latest Indonesian rebuff to South Korea came in November 2023, when it failed to honor its commitment to notify the Korean government of its plan to pay its share of the cost of the KF-21 project, which was due in October.
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On that occasion, DAPA director Eom Dong Hwan stated that “Jakarta’s failure to honor its payments undermines confidence in its commitment to develop an advanced multirole warplane for the two nations’ air forces.” If the engineers suspected of stealing confidential information are found guilty, Seoul is likely to expel Indonesia from the program and could take tough legal and political action against Jakarta.
South Korea, which virtually had to face KF-21 development alone, is making good progress with the prototype testing phase and plans to begin serial production of the fighters later this year, with the goal of deploying 120 KF-21 “Boramae” by 2032.
