REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) would develop production of fighter jets. To produce 4.5-generation fighter jets, PT DI would cooperate with aircraft industry of South Korea, South Korean Aerospace Industry (SKAI).

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This cooperation was not only a matter of transfer of technology, but also creation of prototype of 4.5-generation fighter jets. PT DI has signed an integrity pact with SKAI at Ministry of Defense, in Jakarta, Friday (4/12).

President Director of PT DI, Budi Santoso, said PT DI would send 200 engineers to South Korea to run this program. This 10-year program targeted in 2019 there would be a prototype that can be used as a reference for production.

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"Later I sent 200 engineers to South Korea to make a joint design of fighter jets. In 2019 the target prototypes can be launched," said Budi, Friday (4/12).

Budi revealed, the cost of production of the fighter jets would be provided 20 percent by Indonesia and 80 percent by South Korea. He said, the fifth prototype would be done at the headquarters of PT DI in Bandung.

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Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, Cho Tai Yeong, said South Korean fighter jets already have their own designs. Even so, he admitted fighter jets design must keep up with technology.

"We hope this cooperation can make the two countries become stronger in the future. We can work together for the advancement of defense technology," said Cho.

Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu targeted in the next 20 years Indonesia would been able to create their own fighter jets. He acknowledged, in this cooperation, Indonesia could take up a lot of knowledge from South Korea.

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