KFX/IFX News and Development

[Cossack25A1]

Apparently, it seems that aside from South Korea and Indonesia, the KF-21 is planned to be exported to other countries.

 

[Indos]

Apparently, it seems that aside from South Korea and Indonesia, the KF-21 is planned to be exported to other countries.

View attachment 765214

South Korea, Indonesia, Philippine, Malaysia, Thailand flags were shown during the roll out event.


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South Korea’s first homegrown fighter jet, the KF-21 Boramae, will be ready to fly with weapons aboard by 2028, the arms procurement agency said Sunday.

“We will come up with air-to-air missiles by 2026 and air-to-surface missiles by 2028,” the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said.

Weapons on Korean fighter jet ready by 2028

South Korea’s first homegrown fighter jet, the KF-21 Boramae, will be ready to fly with weapons aboard by 2028, the arms procurement agency said Sunday. “We will come up with air-to-air missiles by 2026 and air-to-surface missiles by 2028,” the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said...

news.koreaherald.com

 

[Cossack25A1]

South Korea, Indonesia, Philippine, Malaysia, Thailand flags were shown during the roll out event.


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South Korea’s first homegrown fighter jet, the KF-21 Boramae, will be ready to fly with weapons aboard by 2028, the arms procurement agency said Sunday.

“We will come up with air-to-air missiles by 2026 and air-to-surface missiles by 2028,” the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said.

Weapons on Korean fighter jet ready by 2028

South Korea’s first homegrown fighter jet, the KF-21 Boramae, will be ready to fly with weapons aboard by 2028, the arms procurement agency said Sunday. “We will come up with air-to-air missiles by 2026 and air-to-surface missiles by 2028,” the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said...

news.koreaherald.com

The main question now is if the PH Air Force will be buying it, as of now it is still a deadlock between the F-16V and JAS-39C, with the latter being more likely due to the increased price of the F-16V.

 

[Indos]

The main question now is if the PH Air Force will be buying it, as of now it is still a deadlock between the F-16V and JAS-39C, with the latter being more likely due to the increased price of the F-16V.

If the PH Air Force pick JAS-39C then it will likely to get interested in KF 21/IFX program as the plane is also inshaAllah much cheaper than Western 5 generation fighters and has engine communality with JAC-39C, not to mention PH has already chosen FA 50 and possibly for lead trainer will also be with T 50 Golden Eagle.

SAB JAS 39 C is still using GE F 404 but this engine is still similar with higher thrust GE F 414 that is used by KF21/IFX

 

[Cossack25A1]

If the PH Air Force pick JAS-39C then it will likely to get interested in KF 21/IFX program as the plane is also inshaAllah much cheaper than Western 5 generation fighters and has engine communality with JAC-39C, not to mention PH has already chosen FA 50 and possibly for lead trainer will also be with T 50 Golden Eagle.

SAB JAS 39 C is still using GE F 404 but this engine is still similar with higher thrust GE F 414 that is used by KF21/IFX

That's the likely plan specially when 2030s come and the JAS-39 may not be able to survive in an airspace where there are many 5th-gen fighters flying.

My guess is that once the KF-21 is in service in SK and Indonesian air forces, the PH Air Force may choose it instead of buying more FA-50s.

 

[CIA Mole]

i dont see this becoming an export success with F35 costs decreasing

 

[Indos]

i dont see this becoming an export success with F35 costs decreasing

I dont see F 35 price is decreasing despite LM keep promoting something like that. Just wait for Greece to open up their F 35 deal so that we can assess whether it is true or not. Just as an example of how LM offer their F 16 V to PH which is also quite expensive despite F 16 have been produced so many

UAE F 35 deal is also very expensive for 50 F 35 plane......

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The jets are a major component of a $23 billion sale of high-tech armaments from General Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Technologies Corp to the UAE announced this fall.

https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-emirates-f35-int-idUSKBN29P2C0

 

[Indos]

The financial obligation of Indonesia in this program is likely to be fixed after the renegotiation is concluded inshaAllah. August is the time where both parties will have the meeting again.

IMO Indonesia is getting more serious and has prepared the engineers to come back to South Korea in the second semester this year after their departure in March 2020 (after the design is completed in 2019 September, as Indonesian engineers previously departed to South Korea are design engineers and other engineers related to design testing ).

According to our source, Finance Minister has also disbursed money for LIFT aircraft. I dont know whether it is 1.1 billion USD that previously stated by Alman Helvas as budget for Fighter acquisition (since there is no combat plane acquisition program being approved by planning Ministry until 2024 according to Indonesian member in other forum who has seen the document), or it is coming from other budget.

It is likely T 50 from KAI and it means we will give KAI another significant sales for their plane. Actually it is brillian to spend on LIFT aircraft Today since we are preparing to have at least 48 KF21/IFX until 2035 and more KF 21/IFX after 2035 (as stated by Jokowi during KF 21 roll out ceremony).

AlhamduliLLAH

Indonesian engineers to return to S. Korea for KF-21 joint development​

11 Agustus 2021

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- Indonesian engineers who left South Korea last year amid speculation the Southeast Asian country was seeking to quit their joint fighter jet development will return this month after Jakarta reaffirmed its commitment to the project, the arms procurement agency said Wednesday.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, 32 Indonesian engineers are undergoing administrative procedures, such as visa application, to return to the Korea Aerospace Industries headquarters in the southern city of Sacheon.

Indonesia agreed to partner in South Korea's KF-21 project aimed at developing a new fighter jet by 2026, and promised to shoulder 20 percent of the total development cost of 8.8 trillion won (US$7.6 billion), or about 1.7 trillion won.

But Indonesia's 114-strong engineering team returned home in March last year after the country's failure to make payments gave rise to speculation that it could quit the program. Indonesia stopped making payments after investing 227.2 billion won, with around 700 billion won overdue.

The Indonesian government reaffirmed its continued commitment to the KF-21/IF-X joint development, and sought cooperation for its engineers' prompt return to South Korea," the agency said in a release.

South Korea decided to accept the request, despite the unsolved payment issue, in order to swiftly normalize the joint business.

Starting with the 32 engineers, around 100 personnel will be back at the Sacheon plant by the end of the year.

The two countries were seeking to hold another round of negotiations to resolve the payment issue but the meeting could not take place due to the coronavirus situation.

"We will do our best to hold working-level talks as soon as possible and conclude the discussions on the payment issue," Jung Kwang-sun, heading the KF-21 program at the agency, said.

South Korea has been working on the KF-21 project since 2015 to develop a homegrown cutting-edge fighter aircraft to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets.

In April, South Korea unveiled a prototype of the gray-colored jet and its official name, KF-21 Boramae.

Ground tests are currently under way and the first flight test is scheduled for next year.

When the development is complete, 40 units are planned to be delivered to the Air Force by 2028 and another 80 units by 2032, officials said.

(Yohhap)

 

[Indos]

12 AUGUST 2021

Indonesia reaffirms commitment to KF-21 fighter, engineers to re-join project
by Jon Grevatt

Engineers from Indonesia are set to re-join the programme led by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to develop the KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter aircraft.

The development follows Indonesia's recent “reaffirmation” of its commitment to the joint programme, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on 11 August.

Technicians from Indonesia are preparing to re-engage in South Korea's programme to develop the KF-21 fighter aircraft. (KAI)

DAPA said that 32 Indonesian engineers are preparing to restart work on the KF-21 project and that their number will grow to about 100 by the end of the year.

DAPA added that the officials are currently preparing visa documentation and will be required to quarantine for two weeks before restarting work on the programme.

A spokesperson from KAI told Janes that the returning Indonesian personnel will resume work collaborating with KAI counterparts on KF-21 production and ground- and flight-testing activities.

The spokesperson added that in the coming months KAI will support Indonesian engineers' understanding of work undertaken since their absence. Korean language studies are also under consideration.

In its statement, DAPA said the technicians return to work on the KF-21 follows the Indonesian government's decision in April to “reaffirm its continued participation in the joint development” programme.

The agency said that Jakarta had also requested that Indonesian engineers return “as soon as possible” to South Korea to work on the aircraft. “In response, the South Korean government agreed that the return of Indonesian technical staff is required for the stabilisation of the joint development programme,” said DAPA.

South Korea and Indonesia agreed in 2015 to invest KRW8.8 trillion (USD7.6 billion) to develop the KF-21, with Jakarta paying 20% of development costs in return for access to technologies.

Indonesia reaffirms commitment to KF-21 fighter, engineers to re-join project

Engineers from Indonesia are set to re-join the programme led by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to develop the KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter aircraft.

www.janes.com

 

[Indos]

Exclusive] Applying ‘stealth paint’ to ‘KF-21 Boramae’

Reporter Shin, Shin | Input 2021-08-13 03:10:00

It is known that the first domestic fighter 'KF-21 Boramae', the prototype of which was unveiled in April of this year, is highly likely to have some stealth performance. Last year, the domestic stealth paint development was completed and the performance was proven, so they plan to apply it before mass production of the KF-21.

According to a related source on the 10th, the development of a paint with radio wave absorption function (RAM paint) that Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) entrusted with a research service entrusted to a private company was completed last year and its performance was recognized in the subsequent evaluation. The source said, "We are in the stage of applying (paint technology)." It is said that the performance will be verified by applying paint to the prototype in the process of developing the KF-21, which will undergo 2,200 flight tests over 4 years from July next year after ground testing.

The paint applied to the surface of the fuselage is the core technology of the stealth aircraft, along with the internal weapon window and the infrared emission suppression engine. The reason that the authorities initially started developing paints in Korea was because it was not easy to introduce them overseas due to technology leakage. Authorities believe that this domestically developed paint will greatly reduce the 'detection rate', which reduces the possibility of being detected by enemy radar.

The F-35A, a representative stealth aircraft, has a radar cross section (RCS) of 0.001 m2, the value of which the electromagnetic field emitted by the radar meets an object and returns back, and the F-22 'Raptor' reaches 0.0001 m2. It is said that these fighters are detected on the radar at the level of a 'golf ball'. Another source said, “It is not as good as the fifth-generation fighters such as the F-35A, but the detection rate will be significantly lower than that of existing air force fighters such as the KF-16. I think this will be the case.”

Although not developed as a stealth aircraft, the KF-21, which is similar in appearance to the F-22, is evaluated to have the highest specifications as a 4.5th generation fighter except for the 5th generation. The South Korean military plans to deploy 40 units by 2028 and 120 units by 2032 in total.

Read more:

[단독]‘KF-21 보라매’에 ‘스텔스 페인트’ 입힌다

올해 4월 시제1호기가 공개된 첫 국산 전투기 ‘KF-21 보라매’가 스텔스 성능을 일부 갖출 가능성이 높은 것으로 알려졌다. 지난해 국내 스텔스 도료 개발이 완료됐고 성능이 입…

www.donga.com

 

[KampfAlwin]

I sort of hope Brunei could procure some of this aircraft. We have pilots that have trained in fighter jets, yet we don’t have jets! Not even a trainer!

 

[Indos]

I sort of hope Brunei could procure some of this aircraft. We have pilots that have trained in fighter jets, yet we don’t have jets! Not even a trainer!

Yup, Brunei at least needs to have 8 T 50 Golden Eagle attack version like Indonesia so at least it can launch sidewinder, bomb, and bullets. Good for training, patrol, and shows present in Brunei SCS territory and EEZ.

Later in 2030, if KF 21/IFX program is InshaAllah successful and runs on shcedule, Brunei should have 16 KF 21 fighter as it is important to show present particularly in SCS areas. It is also as part of the contribution of Brunei to strenghten our own region in SEA.

 

[KampfAlwin]

Yup, Brunei at least needs to have 8 T 50 Golden Eagle attack version like Indonesia so at least it can launch sidewinder, bomb, and bullets. Good for training, patrol, and shows present in Brunei SCS territory and EEZ.

Later in 2030, if KF 21/IFX program is InshaAllah successful and runs on shcedule, Brunei should have 16 KF 21 fighter as it is important to show present particularly in SCS areas. It is also as part of the contribution of Brunei to strenghten our own region in SEA.

Agreed, plus jet parts would come from ID so it would be easy logistics. After all, we already are buying ID weapons, vehicles, planes etc from Pindad and more. Hopefully, my country's economy improves for it to happen.

CN-235 we bought some time ago from ID:

 

[Indos]

Agreed, plus jet parts would come from ID so it would be easy logistics. After all, we already are buying ID weapons, vehicles, planes etc from Pindad and more. Hopefully, my country's economy improves for it to happen.

CN-235 we bought some time ago from ID:

View attachment 771437

Yup, I hope Brunei can mimic the success of UAE or Singapore. In term of airspace, Singapore doesnt have much since the island is surrounded by both Malaysia and Indonesia. This is why they do the practice in Australia and USA and put their fighters there. Brunei in the other hand has quite enough territory in SCS and its airspace is also not as crowded as in Singapore (as Singapore is an air transport hub in SEA region).

Talking about parts of KF 21, majority will come from Korea and some from Indonesia, although if the sales is quite tight, Indonesia could come up as production back up for other parts that are produced in Korea. It is because the strategic cooperation has already been there since 2015 with KAI and 2011 with ADD Korea, like for instant we dont develop any plane with Boeing but Indonesia Aerospace supply fuselage parts for Boeing planes as well.

The KF 21 plane for SEA market could potentially come from Indonesia since renegotiation is still going on and Indonesia is keen to have export license, just wait the renegotiation conclusion inshaAllah in this year hopefully.

Although personally I think export license should not become our main issue since Indonesia Aerospace production rate will likely be quite high to produce KF 21 in the country for our Air Force needs and also if the demand for N 219 planes is sky rocketing ( both for basic and amphibious version), as we know civilian plane has more potential to get huge market if the plane is proven to be good with competitive price tag compared to military planes ( fighter or transport type ).

I think the maintenance is also very important and Indonesia Aerospace has good track record in relation to Brunei CN 235 plane. Their technicians are quick in respond to fix Brunei grounded CN 235 once Brunei AF asked it, after fixing the problem in Brunei, the plane is flown to Indonesia Aerospace facility in Bandung to undergo major overhaul and only about a month the plane is already flown back to Brunei.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1327975763350614018

 

[Indos]

KF-21 joint development' 30 Indonesian engineers departed for Korea (comprehensive)
Returned after withdrawal in March of last year... 700 billion won in delinquency, renegotiation to resume soon

• Input: 2021.08.28 00:22:00

KF-21 joint development' 30 Indonesian technicians to Korea... restart business

30 Indonesian technicians participating in the joint development project of the Korean fighter KF-21/IF-X boarded a flight to Korea on the night of the 27th.

The joint development project has been restarted after a year and five months since the Indonesian government brought in 114 local engineers from Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, in March last year due to the corona crisis.

Prototype of Korean fighter Boramae (KF-21) unveiled on April 9

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the Korean Embassy in Indonesia on the 27th, 30 Indonesian technicians participating in the KF-21 project departed on the Asiana Airlines flight from Jakarta to Incheon at 9:50 pm (local time) that day.

Previously, 33 people applied to the embassy for a visa to work in Korea on the 10th of this month and were recently issued a visa.

Indonesia has dispatched 114 engineers to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do since the second half of 2016 to develop the KF-21, but withdrew all of them due to the corona crisis in March last year.

Some of the 30 people were the same as those who had withdrawn, and some were known as new ones.

“The number of returning Indonesian technicians is expected to increase to 100 by the end of this year, starting with 30,” the DAPA said.

Indonesian technicians will be quarantined for two weeks after arriving in Korea before being put into field work.

'KF-21 joint development' 30 Indonesian technicians to the airport to go to Korea

The KF-21/IF-X project is to research and develop a 4.5th generation fighter with a joint cost of 8.8 trillion won between Korea and Indonesia from 2015 to 2028.

Indonesia plans to invest 1.7 trillion won (20% of the total project cost) and produce 48 next-generation fighters in Indonesia after receiving one prototype and technical data.

Indonesia delayed the payment of contributions from the second half of 2017 due to economic circumstances, and so far, 74 billion won has been delayed.

At the request of President Joko Widodo, the renegotiation of the levy was in progress, but the defense minister was replaced by Prabowo Subianto, and as the corona crisis erupted, a settlement was not reached.

Minister Prabowo showed a friendly attitude through several meetings with Defense Acquisition Program Administration Commissioner Kang Eun-ho, Ambassador Park Tae-seong, and Defense Adviser Jeong Yeon-su.

Following the launch of the first prototype in April of this year, he visited Korea and decided to continue participating in the development project.

Technicians at Soekarno-Hatta Airport to check-in for a passenger flight to Incheon on the 27th

The two sides plan to continue renegotiation in the near future, and prior to this, the Indonesian government decided to send some technical staff to Korea to show their will for the joint project.

Since last year, Indonesia has been spending most of its government budget on responding to the Corona crisis, causing setbacks in most SOC (social infrastructure) projects, such as the construction of a new capital.

'KF-21 공동개발' 인도네시아 기술진 30명, 한국으로 출발(종합)

작년 3월 철수 후 복귀…분담금 7천억 연체, 재협상 곧 재개

www.mk.co.kr

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I need to clarify the news report. Indonesian engineers have already been participating in the development since 2011, not 2016 as this news report stated. KF 21/IFX is first developed by ADD Korea and Indonesia Aerospace that resulted in C 103 design that become the basis of KF 21/IFX before it gets refinement after KAI and LM join the program since 2015