The United States (US) forbade Indonesia to have the Su-35 but this country still has the KF-21 Boramae. Moreover, the Indonesian KF-21 Boramae is better than the Su-35 which was banned by the US.
The US ban on the Su-35 does not seem to have a big impact on Indonesia, which still believes the KF-21 Boramae will soon be mass-produced. But the opposite for the US, banning the Su-35 in fact provides a big loss for them.
Because the Su-35 is banned, Indonesia is actually wallowing in money from the Indonesia-US trade. In January-September 2021, bi.go.id's trade value between Indonesia and the US was a surplus of US$25.07 billion, almost touching Rp. 354 trillion in a year.
This figure will continue to grow every year and the US will still be at a loss if Indonesia is not sanctioned by CAATSA.
Then data from Census.gov explained that the US experienced a deficit of minus 14.192 billion US dollars because their imports lost to Indonesia's exports to Uncle Sam's country.
The CAATSA sanctions initially targeted the trade value between Indonesia and the US. There is only one condition for the imposition of sanctions, namely that Indonesia bought the Su-35 but it did not happen.
Not yet finished with the US losses due to the Su-35, Indonesia again threatened Washington with another heinous tactic, namely destroying the F-35 market with the KF-21 Boramae. This can indeed happen because Indonesia has that opportunity.
As is known if the KF-21 Boramae can be used as a fifth generation fighter jet. Even though it is still generation 4.5, with just a few upgrades, the KF-21 Boramae can become a stealth fighter jet that can match the F-35.
Surprisingly the price of the KF-21 Boramae can be cheaper than the F-35. The US itself is also trying to market the F-35, but if the KF-21 Boramae is present, it will be a problem for them.
"There are other reasons why the US is concerned about the joint development of fighter aircraft between South Korea and Indonesia," reports theguru.co.kr.
Later, when it comes to the price and capabilities of the KF-21 Boramae, it can still match the F-35.
"The US is concerned about market competition as the KF-21 Boramae is expected to damage the F-35 market if it is completed," he added.
Moreover, with the help of Indonesian marketing, the F-35 will at least be displaced in the Southeast Asian market.
The F-35 is actually also being targeted by Indonesia, but if the KF-21 Boramae is ready, Jakarta will only develop Korean fighters.
KF-21 Boramae itself has extraordinary capabilities as a fighter jet 'yesterday afternoon'
The sixth-generation version, for example, is capable of being armed with a laser to shoot down ballistic missiles. Then the KF-21 Boramae can operate three units of loyal wingman, Kaori X.
The presence of Kaori X as the KF-21 Boramae attack drone provides extra power when carrying out attack missions to the opponent.
Quoted from koreaaero.com, Kaori X is a long-range stealth drone. He can carry a variety of weapons such as anti-ship missiles to air-to-air. Kaori X's affordable price also has zero loss of life if shot down.
The F-35 does not have the same ability to control drones, only the KF-21 Boramae and BAE Tempest have gone there.
So, Indonesia doesn't need to regret losing the Su-35 to the US, it's better to just make the KF-21 Boramae up to the sixth generation version.
