S. Korea, Indonesia Join to Produce Armored Vehicles

By JUNG SUNG-KI, SE

South Korea’s rolling stock maker Rotem will transfer technology to Indonesia to help the Southeast Asian nation develop wheeled armored fighting vehicles, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Dec. 13.

Representatives from Rotem, a unit of Hyundai Motor, and Indonesia’s PT.PINDAD signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the joint development and production of six-wheel-drive armored vehicles during aceremony at DAPA’s headquarters in central Seoul.

“We believe this MoU will pave the way for the future export of South Korea’s armored vehicle technology to foreign countries, particularly Asian and Middle Eastern nations,” said Cmdr. Park Sung-soo, a public affairs officer for DAPA.

Indonesia plans to equip its military with about 400 advanced armored combat Vehicles, Park said.

The MoU with Indonesia is Rotem’s second contract on the transfer of technology abroad, following a contract in June with Turkey over the XK2 Black Panther main battle tank.

Jakarta is considered Seoul’s key arms trade partner. South Korea sold seven KT-1 Woongbi basic trainers and spare parts to Indonesia in 2003 under a $60 million contract, which made the country one of the few aircraft exporters in the world.

In 2006, Indonesia purchased 12 more KT-1s. The country is also a potential buyer of South Korea’s indigenous submarines.

In a move to boost bilateral cooperation in the defense industry, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and his Indonesian counterpart, Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono, issued a joint declaration on “strategic partnership relationship” during a summit in December 2006.

The two leaders agreed to improve cooperation on defense-related technology transfer and joint development.

The Rotem-PT.PINDAD contract was reached during a joint defense committee between South Korea and Indonesia in Seoul in August, DAPA officials said.

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