The Boramae Fighter Jet Project Moves On!

            Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto could smile widely because the continuation of the South Korean-Indonesian KF-21 Boramae fighter jet project is increasingly showing progress. The latest, prototype aircraft numbers 03 and 04 are undergoing development at the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) production facility in the city of Sacheon. This fighter jet has a tandem-seat configuration, meaning that the rear seat is occupied by the navigator. This aircraft can be useful for combat training or reconnaissance.

            One of the visible improvements is that the fins of the two prototypes have been colored. Aircraft 03 gets a touch of blue dominant color with white and red designs, also written KF-21 003. Meanwhile, aircraft 04 has a touch of yellow domination with additional white and black stripes and written KF-21 004.

            South Korean authorities have not provided further statements regarding the latest developments of the fighter jet. However, reported by the Korea Joong Ang Daily, the KF-21 fighter jet project called KF-X (Korean Fighter eXperimental) and IF-X in Indonesia is said to be the most expensive military project in Korean history, with a price tag of around 8.5 trillion. won for development only.

            Indonesia plans to produce 48 KF-21 jets locally after receiving one prototype and technical data. During a state visit to Korea in September 2018, President Joko Widodo asked South Korean President Moon Jae-in to reduce 5% of payment obligations. Initially, Indonesia was required to pay 20% but there was a demand that it fell to 15%.    

Through renegotiations since October 2018, the two countries narrowed their differences over Indonesia’s current 20 percent contribution ratio, agreeing on payments in several other forms. However, according to the details of the renegotiated cost-sharing agreement announced by the Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) last November 2021, the two countries decided to maintain a 20% cost-sharing ratio for Indonesia and a payment schedule from 2016 to 2026.

Jan 24, 2022, CNBC Indonesia

(https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2022/01/25/indonesia-to-take-over-airspace-from-singapore-in-quid-pro-quo-deal.html)

Head of Bappenas: The National Capital is named ‘Nusantara’

            Indonesia’s state capital (IKN) will move to East Kalimantan (KalTim). The Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, announced that the center of government is called Nusantara. “Regarding the name of the capital city, I originally wanted to include it at the time of writing the presidential decree but was later detained and I just received confirmation and direct orders from the President on Friday (14/1) and he said the capital city of this country is called Nusantara,” Suharso said.

            Suharso explained the reason behind naming Nusantara as Indonesia’s new state capital in East Kalimantan. “The reason is that Nusantara has been known for a long time and is iconic internationally, it is easy and describes our archipelago, all of us, the Republic of Indonesia, and I think we all agree with the term Nusantara,” he said.

            IKN Nusantara will become a special regional government unit at the provincial level whose territory is the seat of the state capital as stipulated and regulated by law. In the 2022-2024 period, major infrastructure developments such as the Presidential Palace, the DPR/MPR Building, and housing will be carried out. This includes the transfer of civil servants (PNS) of ministries and institutions in the early stages of 500.000. President Joko Widodo plans to celebrate the 79th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia in the IKN area on August 17, 2024.

Jan 17, 2022, DetikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/properti/d-5901387/kepala-bappenas-ibu-kota-negara-namanya-nusantara)