South Korea is facing a crisis in the KF-21 multi-purpose fighter jet project, which is supported by Indonesia and planned to start production this year. According to a statement made by the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Agency (DAPA), an investigation was launched on suspicion that Indonesian engineers stole technical information about the KF-21 fighter jet.
The unnamed engineers, who work at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), were banned from leaving the country for allegedly saving strategic information about the aircraft on a USB stick. The investigation, supported by the South Korean intelligence agency, will examine whether the stored data contains strategic information.
Indonesia is a junior partner in the KF-21 program, responsible for only 20 percent of the 8.8 trillion won ($6.6 billion) development cost. South Korea aims to commission 120 KF-21s for use in its air force by 2032.
