The Indonesian and South Korean governments have agreed to explore the possibility of forming a consortium for the transfer of technology to manufacture trainer aircraft, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said."A joint Indonesia-Korea committee formed in 2005 will discuss the possbility of establishing the consortium," the minister said after receiving South Korean Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Kim Eun-Gi here on Friday.
During the meeting, Sudarsono was accompanied by Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Subandrio.
The minister said the consortium would study the type of trainer aircraft which could be produced through the consortium.
"In this project, we will also partner with relevant state-owned strategic companies at home in an effort to carry out the technological transfer and empower the country`s defense industries at home," the minister said.
The country`s strategic industries would be involved in line with the government`s efforts to provide them with domestic loans, the minister said.
In the meantime, Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Chaeruddin Ray said cooperation through the consortium would make the relations between the two air forces more balanced.
"Under the project South Korea will at least also be prepared to purchase airplanes made by Indonesia so that our strategic industries can develop," he said.
Indonesia has so far bought KT-1B aircraft from South Korea, and is planning to purchase aircraft of the KO-1 type.
South Korea also once used CN-235 aircraft produced by Indonesia`s aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia.
"If the consortium is established and runs well, we can easily meet the need for low-priced trainer airplanes," Ray said.
The Indonesian Air Force is planning to replace a number of its warplanes. It has decided to approach South Korea to supply it with aircraft that can replace its OV-10 Bronco tactical warplanes.
Source: Antara, 09/06/08
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