S. Korea, Indonesia to jointly develop fighter jets

South Korea and Indonesia are preparing to launch joint research and development (R&D) efforts to build fighter jets. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced on Monday that a ceremony marking the launch of such efforts will be held at a new joint R&D center in Daejeon on Tuesday. Around 130 people from the defense acquisition agency, Agency for Defense Development and related Indonesian institutes will work together at the Combined R&D Center to build a multipurpose fighter jet that has stronger capabilities than South Korea’s KF-16 jets, the (KBS World) reported Monday. Earlier in April, the Agency for Defense Development and Indonesia’s state-run defense research institute, "Balitbang," signed an accord on conducting the joint R&D. Under the agreement, Indonesia will acquire some 50 of the fighter jets in return for covering costs and taking part in joint development and marketing efforts.