South Korea Going To Start Production of 4.5++ Gen KF-21 Fighter Jet
Defense News ,South Korea :- South Korea is on track to commence production of the KF-21 fighter jet this year as scheduled, according to an announcement from the state arms procurement agency on Wednesday. This development marks a significant milestone in the nation's quest for an advanced domestically-produced fighter aircraft.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) aims to finalize a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), the manufacturer of the KF-21, in the first half of this year, paving the way for the large-scale production of the fighter jet, as revealed by a DAPA official.
In 2015, South Korea initiated a joint fighter jet development project with Indonesia, with the objective of deploying 120 KF-21s in the South Korean Air Force by 2032, replacing its aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets.
DAPA reported that all six KF-21 prototypes have successfully undergone test flights, conducting various performance assessments, including supersonic flights and arms separation tests.
Ongoing testing for the prototypes is scheduled for this year, with one undergoing extreme weather tests at the Agency for Defense Development’s test center in Seosan, located 98 kilometers southwest of Seoul, throughout February.
Despite progress, the joint development project, valued at 8.1 trillion won (US$6.1 billion) through 2026, faces uncertainties related to Indonesia's overdue payments, which were estimated at nearly 1 trillion won as of October last year.
Under the agreement, Seoul is set to cover about 60 percent of the project's cost, while Jakarta and KAI are expected to contribute around 20 percent each. The DAPA official stated that ongoing discussions aim to prompt Jakarta to submit an updated payment plan for the project.
Specifications of the KAI KF-21 Boramae:
- Type: Multirole fighter jet
- First flight: July 19, 2022
- Engine: Two Hanwha Techwin General Electric F414-KI afterburning turbofans
- Thrust: 50,000 pounds-force (220,000 N)
- Max speed: Mach 1.81
- Combat range: 1,100 kilometers (684 miles)
- Ferry range: 2,900 kilometers (1,802 miles)
- Service ceiling: 16,700 meters (54,790 feet)
- Empty weight: 11,800 kilograms (26,015 pounds)
- Max takeoff weight: 25,400 kilograms (55,993 pounds)
- Internal fuel: 3,600 kilograms (8,000 pounds) (KF-21N), 5,400 kilograms (12,000 pounds) (KF-21D)
- Armament:
- Guns: One 20 mm internal cannon
- Hardpoints: 6 external hardpoints (KF-21N), 10 external hardpoints (KF-21D)
- Missiles: Air-to-air missiles: MBDA Meteor, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Diehl IRIS-T, AIM-9X Sidewinder; Air-to-surface missiles: AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, Taurus KEPD 350
The KAI KF-21 Boramae is a South Korean-developed 4.5-generation fighter jet that is intended to replace the country's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighters. It is also expected to complement the F-15K, KF-16, FA-50, and F-35 fleets. The KF-21 is available in two variants: the KF-21N, which is a single-seat variant, and the KF-21D, which is a two-seat variant.
The KF-21 is a relatively small and agile fighter jet, with a length of 15.2 meters (50 feet) and a wingspan of 9.8 meters (32 feet). It is powered by two Hanwha Techwin General Electric F414-KI afterburning turbofans, which give it a max speed of Mach 1.81 and a combat range of 1,100 kilometers (684 miles). The KF-21 has a service ceiling of 16,700 meters (54,790 feet) and can carry a maximum payload of 7,600 kilograms (16,755 pounds).
The KF-21 is armed with one 20 mm internal cannon and can carry a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles on its six or ten external hardpoints. The air-to-air missiles that the KF-21 can carry include the MBDA Meteor, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Diehl IRIS-T, and AIM-9X Sidewinder. The air-to-surface missiles that the KF-21 can carry include the AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, and Taurus KEPD 350.
