What Prabowo should do to preserve his candidacy is to pay KFX/IFX program as this program is popular among Indonesian general public and parliament.
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CNN Indonesia | Thursday, 23/07/2020
Parliament Asks Prabowo to Pay Off South Korean KFX Than Austrian Typhoon
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia -
Member of DPR NasDem Party Faction Muhammad Farhan joined the inauguration of the House of Representatives (DPR) for the 2019-2024 period in the Plenary Meeting Room, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, October 1, 2019. DPR Commission I Member Muhammad Farhan Photo: CNN Indonesia / Adhi Wicaksono
House of Representatives Commission I member Muhammad Farhan suggested Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto pay off the KFX / IFX fighter cooperation project with South Korea instead of buying 15 used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter planes from Austria.
Farhan said the cooperation project with South Korea was indeed expensive. But it will have a positive impact on the development of Indonesia's defense industry in the long run.
"Although it is bitter that we must pay almost US $ 2 billion, but we can get the technology, the opportunity to develop its people," Farhan said when contacted by CNNIndonesia.com, Thursday (7/23).
See also: Commission I Call Prabowo Violated the Law If You Buy a Used Jet Typhoon
Quoted from Antara, since 2009 Indonesia and South Korea are exploring the development of KFX / IFX. The total investment value agreed by the two countries reached US $ 8 billion or Rp121.35 trillion.
The financing scheme is 60 percent borne by the South Korean State Budget, 20 percent by KAI companies from South Korea, and the remaining 20 percent from the Indonesian State Budget.
The development of KFX / IFX will be divided into three stages, namely the development of technology or concepts, the development of manufacturing engineering or prototypes, then the mass production process. The target, the first prototype can be completed in 2021.
Indonesia and South Korea are targeting the production of 168 KFX / IFX aircraft. Later 120 units will be owned by South Korea, while 48 other units will be owned by Indonesia.
See also: Prabowo's Plan to Buy 15 Austrian Typhoon Triggers Protests
Farhan said that Indonesia had paid US $ 250 million to start the project. He advised Prabowo to focus the budget on the project rather than buying used Austrian aircraft.
"Don't let it break (the contract). This is a difficult decision whose benefits we can feel in the next 5-10 years and can be the basis for us to map the road map towards the minimum essential force," he said.
Previously, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto reportedly would buy up 15 used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter planes from Australia. It was known from the letter numbered 60 / M / VII / 2020 and dated July 10, 2020 was given the subject of 'Proposal About Eurofughter Typhoon Aircraft'.
"In order to modernize the Indonesian Air Force (Indonesian Air Force), I want to hold formal negotiations with you to buy 15 Eurofighter for the Republic of Indonesia," Prabowo said as stated in the English-language letter quoted Wednesday (7/22).
(dhf / gil)
https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasion...o-lunasi-kfx-korsel-ketimbang-typhoon-austria