Indo Defence 2025: KAI proposes assembly line for KT-1B in Indonesia

A model of the KT-1C on display at Indo Defence 2025. KAI has proposed to set up an assembly line for another variant of the trainer, the KT-1B, in Indonesia. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has proposed to set up an assembly line for the KT-1B Woong-Bee trainer in Indonesia, which would produce airframes for global customers of the aircraft type.

The matter was confirmed by a representative from KAI during an interview with Janes at the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition, which is taking place in Jakarta from 11 to 13 June.

This offer is part of proposals that have been made by KAI to the Indonesian government as part of the company's bid to sell more KT-1B trainer aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force, said the representative.

Indonesia presently operates a fleet of 16 KT-1B trainer aircraft, and the first airframe was received in 2003. The airframes are operated by the Indonesian Air Force's 102nd Training Squadron.

In March 2025 KAI announced that it has received a USD64 million contract to upgrade selected airframes of this fleet.

Janes has received confirmation from KAI at Indo Defence 2025 that the upgrades pertain to just 12 airframes, and it will involve the strengthening of the aircraft's fuselage and wings such that it can fly for 15,000 more hours.

For now, KAI is looking to sell 12 more KT-1Bs to the Indonesian Air Force, which would fulfil the service's current tempo of basic training for its cadet pilots.

Besides that, KAI is also in talks with several countries, including those in South America, that have expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft type.