<![CDATA[This study examines why technology transfer (ToT) in the Indonesia–South Korea KF-21 Boramae program deviated from its initial design and how the shift from co-development and planned domestic co-production toward direct procurement can be understood within the broader framework of bilateral defense cooperation. Using qualitative document analysis, the study analyzes official government statements, institutional documents, credible news reports, and relevant academic literature published between 2010 and 2026 through an integrated framework of defense diplomacy, defense offset, and absorptive capacity. The findings show that the shift toward direct procurement represents a recalibration of the program’s industrial component rather than the termination of Indonesia–South Korea defense cooperation. The gap between the initial ToT design and its implementation was shaped by recurring payment delays, concerns over sensitive technical data, changing bargaining conditions, and limitations in Indonesia’s absorptive capacity for advanced aerospace manufacturing. The study’s novelty lies in explaining the post-2025 transformation of the KF-21 partnership by treating ToT as a distinct process rather than merely an outcome of defense diplomacy. Practically, the findings highlight the need for realistic technology-transfer targets and clearer contractual contingency mechanisms. The study contributes an integrated analytical framework for explaining how defense-industrial cooperation can be substantially recalibrated while broader defense diplomacy remains intact.]]>
