KF-21 Boramae is predicted to be a profitable commodity for Indonesia. Indonesia will also benefit double from the KF-21 Boramae. KF-21 Boramae can be traded and of course can be used by Indonesia to increase its air power.
Moreover, the KF-21 Boramae is allegedly sold at an affordable price. And Indonesia wants to produce its own KF-21 Boramae in the future.
The existence of the KF-21 Boramae project has made a neighboring country, Malaysia seem to pay great attention. Admittedly, Malaysia is observing the development of the KF-21 Boramae. Moreover, the KF-21 Boramae will fly for the first time this year.
The Commander of TUDM, General Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad, when asked about the KF-21 Boramae, did not deny that the fighter jet was sophisticated.
"In an interview with the defense magazine Asia Defense Journal, TUDM Commander General Tan Sri Ackbal Abdul Samad was asked about the possibility of Malaysia buying the Indonesian KF-21 Boramae," Defense Security Asia reported.
But Malaysia has not been able to operate the KF-21 Boramae because the fighter jet technology is too advanced, they are not ready at this time.
"The designers of the CAP55 plan monitored the latest market developments and system evolution, however it is too early to determine whether the KF-21 Boramae is compatible with the TUDM or not," he added.
"However, he said, it is still too early to determine whether the 4.5-generation joint venture fighter aircraft between South Korea and Indonesia is suitable for the RMAF and the country," wrote the Asia Defense Journal.
Besides that, apparently Malaysia has not been able to buy the KF-21 Boramae. Because their defense budget is tight.
Moreover, Malaysia needs more light fighter jets for its air force.
This makes Leonardo and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) competing to market the M-346FA and FA-50. However, Leonardo is still at the forefront because the M-346 version has been used by Malaysia.
However, Malaysia is also nervous because the planes made by Leonardo are performing poorly due to lack of maintenance. So the remaining candidates are only FA-50, but it's expensive.
Actually, Malaysia is insisting on getting 33 units of F-18 Hornet used by the Kuwait Air Force as a grant.
Malaysia's Deputy Defense Minister Dato' Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz said that the Kuwaiti F-18s had low operating hours so you could say they weren't very old.
"However, an agreement has not yet been reached by both parties, but if this is successful, it will increase TUDM's air power," said Hisham Abdul Aziz.
"The Ministry of Defense has also submitted an application for the designation of this program to the Ministry of Finance this year. The Su-30 MKM fighter aircraft is also going through a capacity improvement program," he added.
But Kuwait denies it will give its F-18s to Malaysia. Only Malaysia is 'looking forward to' Kuwait is not at all interested in Kuala Lumpur's request.
As a result, Malaysia now only relies on underperforming fighter jets to maintain its air space. For now, it is worth mentioning that Malaysia is only dreaming of buying the KF-21 Boramae like Indonesia.
