KF-21을 직도입할 인도네시아

[위종민]

인도네시아가 자국도입분 KF-21을 자국 생산이 아니라 한국내 생산분을 직도입하기로 했다고 합니다. 도입수량은 현재 미정이네요. 

별도로 인도네시아가 낸 시제기 6기 중 1기를 인도하고, 그 외 기술이전 및 시험비행 데이터도 건네줄 예정이라고 합니다. 

**인도네시아, KF-21 현지 생산 포기**

2026년 6월 30일

Parth Satam

인도네시아가 KF-21을 현지에서 공동 생산하지 않을 예정이다.

KF-21 복좌형 시제기 2대 가운데 1대. (사진: 대한민국 공군)

당초 계획과 달리 인도네시아는 KF-21 보라매를 자국에서 공동 생산하지 않고 한국으로부터 직접 구매하는 방식을 선택했다.

KF-21 보라매 전투기 사업을 둘러싼 한국과 인도네시아의 오랜 이견은 어느 정도 해결된 것으로 보인다. 인도네시아는 2026년 6월 29일 KF-21을 자국에서 공동 생산하지 않겠다고 공식 확인했다. 당초 KF-21은 한국항공우주산업(KAI)의 파트너인 PT 디르간타라 인도네시아가 현지에서 생산할 예정이었다. 그러나 사업 분담금, 기술 이전, 작업 분담(workshare), 그리고 제기됐던 지식재산권 유출 의혹 등을 둘러싼 갈등으로 양국 관계에 마찰이 발생했다.

이 같은 결과는 이미 2025년에 예고된 바 있다. 일련의 분쟁 이후 한국 정부는 인도네시아의 분담금을 당초 약 1조6천억 원(약 10억 달러)에서 6천억 원(약 3억8,900만 달러)으로 낮추겠다고 발표했다. 현재 총사업비는 약 8조1천억 원(약 53억 달러)으로 알려져 있다.

그럼에도 불구하고 한국은 시제기 6대 가운데 1대를 인도네시아에 이전하는 방안을 승인할 가능성이 높다. 이는 2월 양국이 합의한 '가치 이전(value transfer)' 계획에 따른 것으로, 방위사업청(DAPA)은 4월 국회 국방위원회에 이를 보고했다.

Korea JoongAng Daily에 따르면, 5호 시제기의 이전 가치는 최종적으로 인도네시아가 부담하기로 한 6천억 원 규모와 맞먹는다.

KF-21의 5호 시제기는 2023년 5월 첫 비행을 실시했으며, 이후 AESA 레이더 시험과 공중급유 시험에 활용됐다.

KF-21은 최근 몇 년 동안 순조롭게 개발이 진행됐다. 2025년 12월에는 각종 공대지 무장의 분리 시험을 실시했고, 2026년 1월에는 예정보다 앞서 비행시험을 완료했다. KAI는 2026년 3월 양산형 40대 가운데 첫 번째 기체를 출고했으며, 2주 전에는 방위사업청이 14개 감항 분야, 총 745개 검사 항목을 모두 충족한 KF-21에 초기 형식인증을 부여했다. 검사 항목에는 기체 구조, 무장 통합, 전자 시스템 등이 포함됐다.

**인도네시아에서는 생산되지 않는다**

인도네시아 국방부 대변인 Rico Ricardo Sirait는 이 사실을 최초 보도한 Jakarta Globe에 이를 확인했다.

Sirait는 "정부는 KF-21 보라매 사업의 추진 방식을 조정했습니다. 더 이상 공동 생산하지 않고 직접 구매 방식으로 전환할 것입니다."라고 말했다.

그는 정부가 "사업의 효율성, 기술 이전, 경제적 가치, 국내 국방 수요" 등을 종합적으로 검토한 결과 이러한 결정을 내렸다고 설명했다.

또한 Jakarta Globe는 Sirait가 새로운 방식으로 몇 대의 KF-21을 구매할지는 아직 결정되지 않았다고 인정했다고 전했다.

**5호 시제기 인도네시아 이전**

Korea JoongAng Daily에 따르면 단좌형 5호 시제기의 가치는 약 3천5백억 원이며, 이는 인도네시아가 최종 부담하기로 한 6천억 원 가운데 일부에 해당한다. 전체 패키지에는 1,742억 원 규모의 기술 이전과 758억 원 규모의 개발 및 시험 데이터가 포함된다.

2023년 5월 첫 비행 이후 5호 시제기는 AESA 레이더를 포함한 핵심 항전장비 성능 검증과 공중급유 시험에 사용됐다.

인도네시아는 원래 KF-21 개발비의 약 20%를 부담하는 조건으로 사업에 참여했다. 이는 약 1조6천억 원 규모였지만 예산 부족과 국내 경제 여건으로 인해 납부가 지연됐고, 계약 조건 재협상을 요구하는 움직임도 있었다.

이에 한국 정부는 인도네시아의 분담금을 6천억 원으로 낮췄으며, 검토 과정에서는 "시제기를 처음부터 이전할지 여부"도 함께 논의됐다고 Korea JoongAng Daily는 전했다.

최종적으로 인도네시아는 6천억 원 가운데 5,360억 원을 먼저 납부했고, 보도 당시에는 남은 640억 원을 6월까지 지급할 계획이었다.

Korea JoongAng Daily는 "방위사업청은 전액 납부가 확인되면 시제기와 개발 데이터 이전 시점을 최종 확정할 계획"이라며 "가치 이전과는 별도로 한국은 인도네시아에 KF-21 16대를 수출하는 협상도 계속 진행하고 있다"고 전했다.

이후 인도네시아는 남은 640억 원도 납부해 총 6천억 원 전액을 지급한 것으로 알려졌다.

**KF-21과 인도네시아**

2025년 6월 인도네시아 공군(TNI-AU)의 Ferrel Rigonald 대령과 폴란드 공군참모총장 Ireneusz Nowak 소장은 처음으로 KF-21 보라매를 조종했다. 이 4.5세대 전투기는 2014년 한국과 인도네시아가 총 7조5천억 원(약 63억 달러) 규모로 시작한 공동 개발 사업의 결과물이며, 당시 인도네시아는 개발비의 20%를 부담하기로 약속했다.

그러나 공동 개발 사업은 재정 문제, 산업 작업 분담, 기술 이전 등을 둘러싸고 양국 간 갈등을 겪었다. 인도네시아는 2018년 분담금 재협상을 요구했으며, 2022년에야 다시 분담금 지급을 재개했다.

이어 2024년에는 인도네시아 기술자 2명이 USB 저장장치에 항공기 기술자료를 저장해 반출하려 했다는 의혹을 받았다. 이후 방위사업청, 국가정보원, 국군방첩사령부의 공동 조사 결과 기밀 자료 유출은 없었던 것으로 결론 내려졌으며, Herald Corporation은 사실상 인도네시아 기술자들의 혐의가 벗겨졌다고 보도했다.

같은 매체는 인도네시아가 기술 이전 범위와 기술적 노하우(know-why), 지식재산권(IP) 등에 대해서도 불만을 제기했으며, 이러한 문제는 외교 채널을 통해 비공식적으로 논의됐다고 전했다.

이후 2025년 6월 13일 KED Global은 방위사업청이 인도네시아의 분담금을 6천억 원으로 약 3분의 2 감액하는 데 합의했다고 보도했다.

당시 KED Global은 방위사업청과 국방부 관계자를 인용해 이러한 감액이 "기존 합의보다 적은 기술을 이전하는 것"을 조건으로 했다고 전했다.

이 합의는 자카르타에서 열린 Indo Defence Expo & Forum 기간 중 체결됐다. 그리고 이번 결정으로 분담금이 줄어들면서 산업 분야 공동 참여는 완전히 사라지게 됐다.

그러나 인도네시아 공군은 여전히 효과적인 4.5세대 및 5세대 전투기 전력을 확보하게 될 전망이다. 곧 42대의 Dassault Rafale을 운용하게 되며, 최근 첫 기체를 인도받았다. 또한 Turkish Aerospace Industries(TAI)와 KAAN 전투기 48대를 도입하는 계약도 체결했다.

KAAN은 상당한 수준의 현지 조립 및 생산 권한이 부여될 것으로 예상된다. 한편 인도네시아는 F-15EX 도입 계획을 철회했으며, 중국산 J-10C 도입을 위해 90억 달러의 예산을 편성했지만 아직 실제 구매는 이루어지지 않았다.

**저자**

Parth Satam은 일간지 두 곳과 국방 전문 매체 두 곳에서 약 15년간 활동해 왔다. 그는 전쟁은 어떤 미사일과 전투기가 더 빠른가를 넘어 외교, 경제, 기술, 사회, 역사와 깊게 연결된 인간 활동이라고 믿는다. 따라서 국방 항공우주, 전술, 군사 교리와 이론, 인사 문제, 서아시아와 유라시아 정세, 에너지 분야, 우주 분야 등 폭넓은 주제를 분석하고 있다.

Indonesia Won’t Produce the KF-21 Locally - The Aviationist

Indonesia Won’t Produce the KF-21 Locally

Indonesia Won’t Produce the KF-21 Locally

Published on: June 30, 2026 at 10:30 PM CEST

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 Parth Satam

One of the two twin-seater prototypes of the KF-21. (Image credit: ROKAF)

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Contrary to the original plans, Indonesia will not co-produce the KF-21 Boramae locally, opting for a direct procurement from South Korea.

The old differences between South Korea and Indonesia over the KF-21 Boramae fighter program appear to have reached some resolution, as Jakarta confirmed on Jun. 29, 2026 that it would not co-produce the jet locally. Initially, the KF-21 was planned to be manufactured by Dirgantara Indonesia as a junior partner to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), before disagreements over the monetary contribution, technology sharing, workshare and an alleged case of intellectual property theft created friction between the two countries.

There were signs of this eventuality in 2025 when, following the series of disputes, South Korea announced it would reduce Indonesia’s contribution to 600 billion won (approximately $389 million). This was a major drop from the 1.6 trillion won (around $1 billion) Indonesia had initially agreed on for the project that is now reportedly worth 8.1 trillion won (nearly $5.3 billion).

However, Seoul is nevertheless likely to approve the transfer of one of the six KF-21 prototypes to Jakarta. This follows a February plan for a “value transfer” agreed with Indonesia, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) revealed to the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee in April.

According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, the total value of the transfer of the fifth prototype is commensurate with the 600 billion won ($389 million) final Indonesian contribution.The fifth prototype of the KF-21 conducted its first flight in May 2023, and has subsequently participated in the trials of the AESA radar and aerial refuelling tests.

The KF-21 has been progressing steadily over the last few years, conducting pit-drop trials of various air-to-surface weapons in December 2025 and concluding its flight test campaign by January 2026 ahead of schedule. KAI rolled out the first of 40 serial production aircraft in March 2026 and, two weeks ago, DAPA also granted the KF-21 and initial type certificate for operations after the aircraft met all 745 inspection requirements across 14 airworthiness categories. These included airframe structure, weapons integration and electronic systems.

No jets to be manufactured in Indonesia

Indonesia’s defense ministry spokesperson Rico Ricardo Sirait confirmed the development to Jakarta Globe, which first reported it. “The government is adjusting the scheme in the KF-21 Boramae program. We will no longer co-produce the jet, but we will adopt a direct procurement mechanism,” Sirait told the news outlet.

The government, according to Sirait, has made a “comprehensive eval‎uation” of the KF-21 program, taking into account “the program’s effectiveness, technology transfer, economic value, and domestic defense needs.” He “also admitted that Indonesia had not decided on how many KF-21 jets it would buy under the new mechanism,” Jakarta Globe added.

Fifth prototype transfer to Indonesia

According to KJAD, the transfer of the single-seat fifth prototype is worth approximately 350 billion won, part of Indonesia’s final 600 billion won contribution. The total package includes the technology transfer worth 174.2 billion won and 75.8 billion won for the development and testing data.

Since achieving its maiden flight in May 2023, the fifth prototype has been used to verify key avionics performance, including an active electronically scanned array radar, and to conduct aerial refueling tests.

Indonesia originally joined the program on the condition to meet about 20% of the KF-21 development cost. That figure came to roughly 1.6 trillion won, but a series of budget constraints and domestic economic conditions caused it to delay payments, with reports of Jakarta seeking renegotiation of the terms.

The Korean government subsequently lowered Indonesia’s contribution to 600 billion won and, following the review, it was also considering “whether to transfer a prototype from scratch,” KJAD added. Eventually, out of the total 600 billion won, Indonesia transferred 536 billion won and, as per the report, planned to pay the remaining 64 billion won by June.

KJAD said at the time: “DAPA plans to finalize the timing of the transfer of the prototype and development data once full payment is confirmed. Separately from the value transfer process, Korea is continuing talks with Indonesia to export 16 KF-21 jets.” Indonesia has also now been subsequently reported to have paid the full cost of 600 billion won, transferring the remaining 64 billion won.

KF-21 and Indonesia

In June 2025, the Indonesian Air Force’s (TNI-AU) Col. Ferrel Rigonald and Polish Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Iereneusz Nowak piloted the KF-21 Boramae for the first time. The Gen. 4.5 jet is part of Seoul’s and Jakarta’s 7.5 trillion Won ($6.3 billion) 2014 collaboration, where the latter had committed 20% of the development cost.

However, the joint program has witnessed financial, industrial workshare and technological transfer differences between the two countries. In 2018 Indonesia sought to renegotiate its share of the cost, resuming the payment of its share in 2022.

Then, in 2024, two Indonesian engineers were accused of attempting to steal the aircraft’s technical data in flash drives. A subsequent investigation by South Korea’s DAPA, the National Intelligence Service and the Defense Counterintelligence Command ruled out any classified data theft, effectively giving the Indonesian engineers a clean chit, the Herald Corporation reported.

The publication added that Jakarta had reservations with the scope of technology transfer, technical ‘know-why’ and Intellectual Property (IP) rights. These issues reportedly have been taken up informally at the diplomatic level.

This is when KEDGlobal reported on Jun. 13, 2025, that DAPA agreed a “two-thirds” reduction for Indonesia’s contribution to 600 billion won. This reduction, KED Global said at the time quoting DAPA and Ministry of National Defense (MND) officials, was conditioned on “transferring less technology than earlier agreed” to Jakarta.

An agreement to that effect was signed during the Indo Defence Expo & Forum held in Jakarta. As it now turns out, the reduction in the contribution quota has eliminated the complete industrial scope.

The TNI-AU however still would have an effective Gen. 4.5 and Gen. 5 fleet. It will soon operate a fleet of 42 Dassault Rafales, with the first aircraft recently delivered, and has signed a contract with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for 48 KAAN fighters.

The Turkish fighter is expected to see significant local assembly and manufacture rights. Indonesia has also abandoned its plans to purchase the F-15EX and has budgeted $9 billion for the Chinese J-10C – a procurement yet to materialize.

TAGGED:IndonesiaIndonesian Air ForceKF-21 BoramaeKorea Aerospace IndustriesSouth Korea

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By Parth Satam

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Parth Satam's career spans a decade and a half between two dailies and two defense publications. He believes war, as a human activity, has causes and results that go far beyond which missile and jet flies the fastest. He therefore loves analyzing military affairs at their intersection with foreign policy, economics, technology, society and history. The body of his work spans the entire breadth from defense aerospace, tactics, military doctrine and theory, personnel issues, West Asian, Eurasian affairs, the energy sector and Space.

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안 그래도 가격때문에 말이 많은데 더 오를까요?

[위종민]

몇 대를 발주할 지 모르겠습니다만 인도네시아 산 발주 물량까지 KAI로 온다는 얘기니 대당 생산단가는 내려가겠죠 ㅎㅎ