REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Ministry of Defense decided to suspend cooperation of fighter aircraft manufacture between Indonesia and South Korea. Earlier, in 2010, Indonesia and South Korea had agreed to cooperate manufacture of fighter aircraft type KF-X/IF-X.

Minister of Defense, Ryamizard Ryacudu, said he had decided to suspend the project of fighter aircraft. According to him, the fighter aircraft manufacture program is not currently a priority in strengthening Indonesia main weapon system (Alutsista).

"The project is not a priority, in the future, we should be able to make our own fighter aircraft," said Ryamizard, in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, Monday (7/9).

Furthermore, Ryamizard explained that one reason for the postponement of the cooperation with South Korea, is that because the current budget could be diverted to other Alutsista that are more priority. Aircraft industry is not yet a prominent priority of the Ministry of Defense.

"We can buy the fighter aircraft any time. So it can be suspended possibly up to 10 years," he added.

He denied the investment funds that have been given for the fighter aircraft projects will be lost due to the postponement of the project. In this project, Indonesia has spent 600 billion US dollar for research and early development of fighter aircraft.

"The fund will not be lost, because the project was only suspended. While the current funds could be used for other priorities," said Ryamizard.

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