Indo Defence 2025: KAI to partially carry out upgrades of Indonesian KT-1B in-country

A model of the KT-1C on display at Indo Defence 2025. A KAI representative at the show has confirmed with Janes that a contract to upgrade Indonesia's KT-1Bs will be partially carried out in-country. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)

A contract to upgrade the Indonesian Air Force's KT-1B Woong-Bee trainer aircraft will be partially executed in-country as part of efforts to transfer technical expertise to local engineers.

Speaking to Janes at the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition, a representative from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) confirmed that two Indonesian Air Force KT-1B airframes will be upgraded in-country in collaboration with Bandung-based aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI).

This is being carried out as part of efforts to transfer technical expertise to the local workforce, the representative said.

KAI announced in March that it had received a USD64 million contract to upgrade selected KT-1B airframes that are in service with the Indonesian Air Force.

In the interview with Janes , the KAI representative confirmed that the upgrades will be carried out on 12 of the 16 KT-1B aircraft that are in service with the Indonesian Air Force.

As part of the upgrade, KAI will strengthen the structural integrity of the 12 aircraft, and this includes reinforcements to its fuselage and wings.

No upgrades will be carried out on the aircraft's avionics, the KAI representative confirmed. The upgrades will extend the life of each airframe by 15,000 hours, the representative added.

For work that will be done in-country, PTDI engineers will be carrying out the upgrade, but work will be supervised by KAI engineers.

The remaining 10 airframes under the contract will be upgraded by KAI in South Korea, the representative said.