Korean perspective
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KAI signs strategic partnership with Indonesian firm
Posted : 2015-12-04 17:04
Updated : 2015-12-04 21:24
KAI signs strategic partnership with Indonesian firm
By Kang Seung-woo
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has reached a strategic cooperation agreement with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), Indonesia's state-owned aerospace manufacturer, to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country.
PTDI is a partner in Korea's homegrown KF-X fighter jet program, which is expected to deliver by 2025. PTDI will take part in designing the fighter and in production of components for the 8.5 trillion won ($7.37 billion) program.
The agreement was signed in Jakarta Friday between KAI President and CEO Ha Sung-yong and PTDI President Director Budi Santoso. Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Cho Tai Young and Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu also attended.
The partnership deal calls for cooperation in the sectors of unmanned aircraft as well as the defense and commercial aviation industries.
"The agreement will pave the way for continued bilateral cooperation between the two companies and help them work together in the area of non-defense aviation," an official of KAI, based in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, said.
Under the agreement, the two sides also will form a committee to discuss ways to cooperate and will hold biannual meetings.
The Indonesian company participated in the joint development of the CN-235 transport aircraft with Spain's CASA in the 1980s and
also made commercial airplanes the N-250 and N-2130 in the 1990s.
"The strategic cooperation agreement will help the two sides work well together on the KF-X program and seek new markets," Ha said.
"The aviation industry will become a symbolic win-win strategy that will boost economic ties between the two countries."
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N 2130
Only a blue print design and a mock up actually........