REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Some 300 Indonesian aviation experts and technicians will leave for South Korea to learn the manufacture of KF-X/IF-X jet fighters.

"We will send 200 to 300 people to Korea," Budi Santoso, president director of state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, said here on Thursday.

The sending of Indonesian aviation experts and technicians to South Korea is part of a contract between the two countries for joint manufacture of KF-X/IF-X jet fighters.

Under the contract, South Korea has agreed to finance 80 percent of the total costs to manufacture the jet fighters, while Indonesia will bear 20 percent of the production costs.

The Indonesian government is expected to spend Rp18 trillion on the project.

"Although we only have a 20 percent stake in the project, we will receive 100 percent of the knowledge to develop the plane. The transfer of technology will reach 100 percent instead of 20 percent," he said.

All the technicians will study the entire program for the manufacture of KF-X/IF-X jet fighters for three to four years in South Korea.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said 20 percent of people employed in the manufacture of the first unit of the jet fighters in South Korea will come from Indonesia and 50 percent in the manufacture of the second unit of such plane.

Meanwhile, 80 percent of workers to [produce KF-X/IF-X jet fighters in Indonesia will be Indonesians.

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