Korea KF-X/ IF-X (KF-21) program

Khagan1923

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Altay_TR

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Full video of launcing ceremony:

and just a little gesture:
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E

ekemenirtu

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Congrats to the Koreans on developing their first fighter aircraft.

They join their Japanese and Taiwanese neighbours in developing at least one "indigenous" fighter aircraft irrespective of the extent of foreign assistance extended to it during the development process.

Let us wait and see how well this aircraft performs in tests and the response it receives from prospective buyers perhaps in the less developed regions of the world.
 

Indos

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I will bring what happened during first phase of development that started in 2011


Translation from Google translate:

February 6, 2014 (Angkasa/Space Magazine)

KFX / IFX program continued , Government Asked to Immediately Selecting Design

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Korea was once considered Indonesia engineer do not understand about the design of a jet fighter. But the notion was quickly turned , when the Indonesian team describes the design and the various inputs. The Indonesian side also the one who finally managed to convince that the aircraft take-off weight of 50,000 pounds must .

Confirmation of the Parliament of South Korea on the resumption of the program KFX / IFX team warmly welcomed designers from Indonesia. They include asking both governments immediately call the engineers involved in preparing work that has been long overdue. They also want the governments of both countries to make sure one of the two designs that have been produced in the Technology Development phase for cultivation in the next phase .

"Program KFX / IFX is a multi - program years , costly, and involve various sectors and foreign partners. For that there must be a definite declaration on it goes. For Indonesia it is important to determine the financing schemes and their human resources planning, "said Dr Rais Zain, M. Eng , KFX / IFX Configuration Design Leader for Angkasa , in late January.

"In the near future Indonesia will also work on the N219 and R - 80. We do not have enough engineers to work three programs, especially KFX / IFX will take place until the 2020s. The government is expected to call home engineers who are now working abroad to come help the regeneration process. Outside there are approximately 200 people . If half of it can be returned to the country, it is enough to help, " added Rais who is also a lecturer at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering ITB, Bandung.

As reported by the national media, the confirmation of the continuation of the program of making front - liner Korean - Indonesian fighter jets received by the Ministry of Defense on January 3, 2014. Notice is further announced Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro told reporters, Wednesday, January 8, 2014, on the sidelines of Rapim Kemenhan in Jakarta. Explanations related to exposure delivered weapon system procurement plans in the Strategic Plan II, 2015-2019.

The Indonesian government hopes the project of making the 4.5 generation fighter jet could be done because it would be a referral program to remove the dependence of the transfer of technology from other countries. Besides KFX / IFX, Indonesia is also pursuing a program of making submarines , warships, propellants , rockets, and tank size medium. For submarines, Indonesia is also cooperating with the same country.

Superior to the Su - 35 Program, KFX / IFX was stopped temporarily by Korea's new leader Park Geun - Hye end of 2012 after reviewing the state financially in the country. This prestigious project was worked on since the beginning of 2011, shortly after President Lee Myung - bak and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono confirmed the bilateral cooperation in the defense field in Jakarta. From the Technology Development Phase that has been completed, a team of scientists has completed a number of conical design that later became two.

The two designs is a model of the stealth fighter jet -winning twin-engine air superiority with horizontally - tails in the back, and the other one is with canards on the front. "Each has consequences different financing and partners. Thus , it must first be decided which one is selected. It is important that when followed, all parties are ready to do it , "said Rais Zain , whose day-to- day lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Aerospace Engineering,ITB, Bandung.

As stated Wamenhan Sjafrie, Korean parliament has prepared 20 million U.S. dollars (temporary , Indonesia : $ 5 million) to continue this program in 2015. At that time , the team will go to the Engineering Manufacturing Development Phase. In addition must have a high thrust engine with a power to be able to fight in the air, the aircraft must also have weapons stored in the internal weapons bay , the data - link capable of randomizing communications, advanced radar target voters, and anti - jamming device.

The prototype is expected to finish by the end of the Strategic Plan II . Even if there are things that need to be criticized , it is a matter of operation requirements are much more determined the Korean Air Force . This was inevitable because the Korean bear 80 percent of the funding, and the country actually have a real enemy. This program is targeted to spawn a jet fighter with performance equivalent or superior to the opponent fighter jets which are the Sukhoi Su - 35.

Prerequisites requirement dismissed the proposed counter designs by KAI ( Korean Aerospace Industrie) recently, which is intended to cut development costs. In the configuration ( see Space, December 2013 ), looks KFX type E is only one engine powered with weapons outside the radar sweep prone opponent.

Angkasa examine admiration of ADD ( Agency for Defense Development, Defence Research and Development Agency of Korea ) submitted to the Indonesian engineer team. Initially, the team assumes Korea really had no idea about the design of Indonesian fighter jets.

However, the assumption was turned when Indonesian engineers began to describe the design and the various inputs to the design of Korea. The Indonesian side also who ultimately ensure that the aircraft must have a takeoff weight of 50,000 pounds.(A.Darmawan/Angkasa magazine).



------------------------------------------------------

2 Basic design of KFX/IFX C 100 and C 200 posted by credible South Korean Defense related blog, Naver in 2012.

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Gary

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So what is Indonesia's share in the manufacturing phase ???
 

Gary

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Did you read post number 3 ?
yup, just realized . thanks

Meet South Korea's New KF-21 "Hawk" Indigenous Fighter​


Developed under an ambitious timeline, the fighter will complement F-35s and older fighters as part of a revamped Republic of Korea Air Force.​

BY THOMAS NEWDICK APRIL 9, 2021
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South Korea has rolled out the first prototype of its next-generation indigenous fighter, previously referred to as the KF-X, and officially named it the KF-21 Boramae, meaning hawk in Korean. The jet, South Korea’s most ambitious yet, is expected to fly next year and the country’s president has confirmed a demanding schedule to complete the development program for the initial version of the aircraft by 2026.

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is expected to induct 40 KF-21s by 2028 and have the full fleet of 120 aircraft deployed by 2032. The aircraft are urgently required to replace aging F-4E Phantom II and F-5E/F Tiger II fighters and are intended to complement F-35A stealth fighters—60 of which are being procured from the United States—as well as older F-15K Slam Eagle and F-16C/D aircraft.

The rollout ceremony took place today at the Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) facilities in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang province, and saw an address by President Moon Jae In. He heralded “a new era of self-defense,” and “a historic milestone in the development of [South Korea’s] aviation industry. Moon also set a goal for South Korea to become the world’s seventh-biggest aviation industrial power by the 2030s.

Full-scale development work on what was then known as the KF-X began in 2015 and in 2019 South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), which manages defense procurement, announced the go-ahead for the construction of a prototype. Last September, KAI announced that the final assembly of the prototype fighter was underway, mating the fuselage sections and wings.

There are plans for four single-seat and two twin-seat prototypes, each of which will be powered by a pair of U.S.-supplied General Electric F414-GE-400K engines. The manufacturer was selected in 2016 to supply 240 F414 production engines plus spares program. Variants of this turbofan are also found in the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, and Sweden’s JAS 39E/F Gripen, and are also planned to power the Indian Tejas Mk 2.

Seoul expects to issue its first KF-21 production contract in 2024, leading to deliveries of the Block 1 variant in 2026. Block 1 will offer air-to-air capability only, while Block 2 will be cleared for air-to-ground missions.
While developing and producing an indigenous multi-role fighter is a significant challenge, KAI has amassed plenty of experience in producing high-end military aircraft, including the supersonic FA-50 light combat aircraft used by the ROKAF and exported. Korean industry was also involved in a local production of the Block 52 F-16C/D multi-role fighter for the ROKAF.

The KF-21 does exhibit some low-observable features, adopting the canted twin tails, fuselage shaping, and edge alignment, among other features, established by the F-22 and F-35. However, it does not provide the kind of all-aspect stealth offered by these U.S. fighters. Instead, the twin-engine jet is intended to fill the gap between the F-35 and the F-16, in terms of capabilities, but should be cheaper overall than the F-35, the sustainment cost of which is a cause for concern in the United States and elsewhere. The KF-21’s weapons will be carried externally, on six under-wing and four under-fuselage hardpoints.

Once the jet is in service — around 2026 — work is expected to commence on a more advanced derivative, featuring internal weapons carriage, for example. In its initial form, the KF-21 is expected to have a radar cross-section equivalent to the Eurofighter Typhoon, but successive upgrades should reduce this much further. Even the fighter flying into combat without weapons in its most survivable state could be an important sensor node for other fighter aircraft of lesser capabilities.
Under a project worth a total of $7.9 billion, South Korea is developing the KF-21 together with Indonesia, which agreed to pay 20 percent of development costs and plans to acquire 50 examples for its own air force. In the past, Indonesia was behind on payments for the program and there were suggestions that its status in the program could be under threat.
However, Indonesia’s Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto attended today’s rollout ceremony and Korean officials confirmed that the cooperation plans remained in place. The plan is to make the aircraft available for export to other countries, too.
All in all, the KF-21 could be a very attractive proposition for foreign customers. The aircraft has been designed to have better kinematic performance than an F-16C and will feature an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, produced by South Korea’s Hanwha Systems, as well as advanced weapons options, including the ramjet-powered Meteor air-to-air missile provided by Europe’s MBDA. Flight tests of a demonstrator radar have already begun using a Boeing 737 testbed.

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MBDA
Concept artwork of a KF-X armed with four semi-recessed Meteors, IRIS-T self-defense missiles, and a pair of JDAMs.
Weapons have already been selected for the Block 2 version of the KF-21. These comprise the GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-31/38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), GBU-54/56 Laser JDAM, GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I, and the CBU‐105 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD). All these stores are currently in ROKAF service which should accelerate the integration process.
The new fighter jet is expected to carry a payload of up to 16,975 pounds, a maximum takeoff weight of 56,400 pounds. It is expected to achieve a top speed of around 1,400 miles per hour (approximately Mach 1.83) and have a range of 1,800 miles. Of course, these are brochure numbers, so we will have to wait and see how it plays out in reality once the aircraft is flight tested. Its range, in particular, would be far less during actual combat operations.
While there are a number of other, similar advanced fighter projects with stealthy ambitions are underway, including in Europe, India, Japan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, the Boramae will be the first to fly. KAI may have traded some advanced capabilities for a more rapid development path for its fighter design, but that could pay off in the long run if the KF-21 secures export orders.
The KF-21 should play a major role in furthering South Korea’s indigenous defense capabilities. In all, 65 percent of components are being made in South Korea. Importantly, KAI is developing critical avionics, including the mission and flight-control computers. Korean industry is also responsible for the AESA radar, electronic warfare equipment, infrared search and track sensor, and electro-optical targeting pod. Mass production of the KF-21 will also create 10,000 new jobs, according to President Moon. This is in addition to 12,000 jobs involved in the project between 2016 and 2020.

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KAI
The first prototype during its final assembly at KAI.
Aside from its importance to the South Korean industry, the KF-21 will further bolster the ROKAF’s qualitative edge as it faces a growing military threat from a nuclear-armed North Korea. Already, there is a huge mismatch between the ROKAF and the Korean People’s Air Force (KPAF) in North Korea.
While the most modern fighter jets in the KPAF inventory are a relatively small number of late Cold War-vintage MiG-29 Fulcrums, the ROKAF is spearheaded by F-35As, more than two dozen of which have now been delivered to Cheongju Air Base, where the first examples arrived in March 2019. South Korea can also call upon 60 multi-role F-15K Slam Eagles, advanced versions of the F-15E Strike Eagle, and the survivors of 180 F-16C/Ds originally delivered. Seoul is now in the process of upgrading 134 of its Vipers to the F-16V standard, with new avionics including an AESA radar. Future plans also envisage orders for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B variants of the Lightning II, which would equip its next amphibious assault ships.
As well as highly capable frontline fighters, the ROKAF has a range of important force multipliers that would be expected to support the KF-21 in combat. These include Boeing E-737 Peace Eye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, otherwise known as the E-7 Wedgetail, which can keep watch over North Korea’s airspace. There are also Raytheon RC-800 intelligence-gathering aircraft that are equipped for signals intelligence, surveillance, and tactical reconnaissance. Additional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capacity is provided by specially configured Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft adapted for the role by L3 Communications Integrated Systems. These platforms would help provide the KF-21, and other fighters, with real-time data on North Korean air, land, and sea threats.

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KBS NEWS SCREENCAP
Were the two countries to go to war, the KPAF would still be able to put up significant numbers of admittedly obsolete aircraft but would instead rely upon its huge advantage in artillery and mobile missile launchers. In terms of non-conventional weapons, North Korea can call upon an expanding nuclear arsenal as well as chemical, and potentially biological, weapons. The Korean People’s Army also has significant numbers of fixed and mobile surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery, which would need to be suppressed during a large-scale conflict.
With this in mind, the Block 2 version of the KF-21 with air-to-ground capability will likely be of particular importance to the ROKAF.
With its KF-21 Boramae, South Korea has taken a different route to field an indigenous new-generation multi-role fighter, rapidly, and the program has made impressive progress so far. The countdown to its first flight is now on.
Contact the author: [email protected]

 

Test7

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KAI unveiled South Korea’s first indigenous fighter jet prototype on 9th April 2021, 5 years after the start of the KF-X program, naming it the KF-21 Boramae during the announcement showcase.

KAI aim to deliver 40 KF-21 aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force by 2028 with 80 more aircraft to follow by 2032.

KF-X-Test-shot-1-768x483.jpg


The KF-21 will be fitted with Martin-Baker Mk.18 Ejection Seats – the latest in Ejection Seat technology. Martin-Baker are proud to be suppliers on the KF-X program and to support the ROKAF and South Korea in this significant milestone for the country.

Andrew Martin, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, said;

“MB is honoured to have been competitively selected for this new aircraft. We have seen first hand the dedication and hard work that KAI and its team put into their successful KT-1 and T-50 aircrafts and we have no doubt that the KF-21 will follow the same path.”

 

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ISRRadarMulti-Function RadarKF-X AESA Radar
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KF-X AESA(Active Electronically Scanned Array) Radar
Fire control, multi-function radar mounted on the cutting-edge fighter jets. The radar is capable of detecting, tracking enemy aircrafts, ground and sea targets. It can also control guided missiles.

KF-X AESA 레이다
KF-X AESA will be the key device for the fighter jets(KF-X), which is compared to the eyes of the aircraft. AESA radar emits multiple frequency beams at the same time to detect enemy targets. It can drastically reduce the possibilities of aircrafts being attacked as opposed to the single frequency beam radar.
By detecting and tracking targets, AESA radar acquires the information including the distance to target, target’s azimuth, elevation, speed, etc. In the case of KF-X AESA radar program, it marks Korea’s first AESA radar development efforts. KF-X AESA radar is one of the most essential avionics sensors, which performs various missions such as surveillance, detection of air and ground targets and generation of their video images.

Since it is highly sophisticated technology and thus is very difficult to develop, only a small group of advanced countries like the US, the UK, France, Sweden and Israel are holding AESA radar’s source technology.
Key components of AESA radar including antenna, semiconductor transmit/receive modules can be reused 100% for MFR radar with the same frequency band. So, AESA radar is easily scalable to other new businesses in the future.

tab01-aesa-img.jpg


 

Indos

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KFX/IFX C 103 design appeared on Indonesian wind tunnel history video

 

Indos

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AlhamduliLLAH



Top diplomats of S. Korea, Indonesia agree on close cooperation for joint fighter project



19:44 June 25, 2021

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Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong (L, center) holds talks with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, in Jakarta on June 25, 2021, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)


SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea and Indonesia agreed Friday to closely cooperate to smoothly proceed with joint fighter jet development and other mutually beneficial projects, the foreign ministry said.

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, held talks to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues. Indonesia was the last leg of his five-day trip to Southeast Asia that also included visits to Vietnam and Singapore.

"The ministers assessed outcomes of cooperation that the two countries have achieved in the defense industry sector, which symbolizes their strategic trust," the ministry said in a press release.

"Especially, the ministers agreed to closely cooperate to make sure that mutually beneficial, substantive cooperation projects like the KF-21/IF-X project will proceed smoothly," it added.

Under a bilateral arrangement for the KF-21/IF-X project, Indonesia had promised to shoulder 20 percent of the cost for the development of fighters. But it stopped making payments after investing 227.2 billion won (US$201 million).

The two ministers also agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of vaccine procurement and public health to overcome the new coronavirus. To that end, Chung said that Seoul plans to offer Indonesia $4 million worth of items, including COVID-19 diagnostic kits, this year.

Chung pledged to continue close exchanges with Indonesia, calling the country a "core" partner of Seoul's New Southern Policy aimed at strengthening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Chung also paid a courtesy call on President Joko Widodo and stressed that the two countries' relations have been at their best in recent years.

 
Z

ziopino84

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The KAI KF-X is a joint South Korean and Indonesian generation 4.5 fighter aircraft development program with the goal of producing an advanced multirole fighter for the South Korean and Indonesian air forces. The program is lead by South Korea, which holds 80% of shares. Indonesia joined in 2010 for 20%, and the remainder is held by private partners including manufacturer Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI). The KAI KF-X is South Korea's second domestic fighter jet development program, following the FA-50. The KF-X development program is also known as Boramae Korean for "hawk"), and in Indonesia is sometimes referred to as IF-X. As of September 2019, prototypes are under construction with the first of these expected to be completed by mid-2021. The first test flight is anticipated in 2022, with manufacturing scheduled to begin in 2026. South Korea expects to deploy 120 of the aircraft into service by 2032.


 
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Indos

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Look like some Indonesia Aerospace engineers who were in Indonesia during KF 21/IFX roll out are invited with Korean TV during KF 21 roll out event to represent 116 Indonesian design engineers who participated in the development of KF 21 until the design phase is completed around end of 2019.

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Jokowi during KF 21/IFX roll out event, April 2021

 
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Indos

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Despite Indonesian Aerospace engineers are coming home in May 2020 after the completion of design in the end of 2019 (CDR is in September 2019). The work keep continuing and being sent to KAI from Indonesian Aerospace office. It is related to tandem seat prototype where the construction hasnt been made and also component manufacturing for first protoype.

Exact numbers of Indonesian engineers are 116 who got home from Korean Aerospace in May 2020.

This is the work being done by Indonesian Aerospace from their home office in Bandung after Indonesian engineers coming back from Korea in May 2020. This is the activity after May 2020.

Wing Access Cover Design & Analysist

Tandem seat forward Fuselage Structural Test Article

Air Frame Manufacturing for First Prototype


Indonesian Aerospace (PT Dirgantara Indonesia) Annual report for the year 2020 (page 82)

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Combat-Master

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Is there a schedule as to when kFX will perform the first taxi with its own propulsion?
 

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