KFX/IFX News and Development

[NEKONEKO]

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KFX, 4.5 generations, but upgradeable to F 35 A and 5th generation


Oh Dong Kyun , 2019. 12. 20. 11:48

The Korean fighter (KFX) physical model, which will be responsible for the future of our airspace, first appeared at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (Seoul ADEX 2019) held in Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do last October.

According to the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) on the 5th, the fighter is 16.9m long, 4.7m high and 11.2m wide, which is larger in size and similar in shape to the American F35A fighter. The F35A is the fifth generation and the KFX is a 4.5th generation fighter, but the operating cost of KFX is only half that of the F35A.


The target maximum thrust is 44,000 lbs (lb), a maximum takeoff weight of 25,600 kg, a maximum speed of Mach 1.81 (2200 km / h) and a range of 2900 km. For higher maneuverability than the F35A, the maximum speed Mach 1.8.

● 4.5 generations, but operating costs half of F35A

The maximum payload is 7700 kg, with 10 pods installed on the bottom and wings of the aircraft. It can also be equipped with the latest air-to-air missiles and the Korean-type Taurus, the long-range air-to-air guidance weapon we are developing. In order to enhance its low-flying capability (stealth function), we plan to carry four air-to-air missiles into the aircraft.

However, despite these excellent performances and goals, there is still a lot of public criticism of KFX, and there are even extreme arguments for a full turn into the fifth generation of fighter development. The business has already been underway for a while, and I see opposition for opposition. I'm going to show you the other side of the business that they haven't seen.


According to the Defense Agency, the KFX project began in the fourth year this year, with 6,800 jobs created. The economic impact of the project, which was generated by 112 organizations including companies, research institutes and universities, is currently estimated at KRW 2.1 trillion.

As you know well, Geoje, Tongyeong, was in crisis of the level of regional economic collapse due to the shipbuilding recession. However, KAI, which is developing KFX, hired 55 out of 193 experienced workers (28.5%) in the shipbuilding industry from early this year to July.

From 2016 to last year, more than 200 skilled workers in the shipbuilding industry were transferred to KAI. The development of fighter jets is rapidly absorbing unemployed workers, stabilizing the local economy, and becoming a catalyst to change the industrial structure centered on the shipbuilding industry. There are seven years left to create more jobs.

● “Localization of all but low-economic sectors”

KFX's localization rate is 65%. For this reason, “Why is the localization rate not 100%? Wouldn't it be better to import it? ” But experts say that 'know only one, don't know two'. Korean Air Fighter Division, Chung Gwang-Seon Defense Agency explained, “We are localizing almost everything we can do except for development because of lack of technology or low economic feasibility such as engines, landing gear and guns.”

Korea's fighter development capability is now at a very early stage. The light aircraft `` FA50 '', known to be developed by us, also has many foreign parts, so many of the key equipment repairs are left to foreign companies. It is a modification of the supersonic high speed trainer 'T50', which was developed jointly with Lockheed Martin, and was difficult to call perfect localization.



However, KFX is developed as a 'reader platform', so it can be equipped with a domestic weapon system and electronic equipment at any time. Through performance improvements from Block 1 to Block 3, we plan to enhance stealth performance on the surface of the aircraft and improve the weapons, sensors, and radar capabilities.

It is pointed out that it is not a good idea to have a stealth function at once, but we must consider that we are now developing the technology of avionics equipment enough to have an early stage 'active scanning phased array (AESA) radar'.

If we consider higher technology, we will have to invest much more than 8 trillion and 800 billion won, and the development period will be extended. In the process of budgeting, you may face a crisis when you are forced to close your business because of your blame.



● Insist on 100% stealth and give up business

Even Japan, which has developed the world's first AESA radar and has already secured fighter stealth technology, is expecting 17 trillion won for development. Insisting that 'you have to give up your achievements and go to stealth all at once' is actually a claim to quit business.

According to the `` Defense Industry Statistics and Competitiveness White Paper '' released in January of this year by Korea Research Institute, sales of defense companies in the aviation sector reached a high of 3.49 trillion won in 2016, but in 2017, they dropped 1 trillion won to 2.49 trillion won. Exports also decreased from 85.53 billion won to 304.1 billion won during the same period. As of 2017, the aviation sector accounted for 17.2% of the domestic defense industry's sales, followed by thermal power (33.2%).



In this situation, the KFX business has emerged as a salvation pitcher. The proportion of R & D personnel in the aviation sector was 36.9%, an increase of 6.8 percentage points compared to the previous year. Unable to empower the business Now, the first step of the development team's fraudulent deception can lead to a 'butterfly effect' that shrinks the defense industry in its turn.

According to a report written by Professor Park Jae-chan of Yeungnam University, it is estimated that KFX's technology ripple effect will reach 1.2 trillion won based on the 65% localization rate. It has been analyzed to affect almost all aerospace sectors, including other aircraft design and equipment development and pilot training.

● Fostering a platform for the Southeast Asian market



This is an important opportunity to lead to fighter planes as well as overseas exports of aviation equipment. Although we were frustrated with T50 US exports and Surion helicopter exports to the Philippines, opportunities will come again as we continue to advance our technology. In particular, KFX has a low operating cost of half the F35A and F15K, which is our flagship model.

In April, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marines signed an agreement with Indonesia to sell three Janbobogo (1200 ton) submarines for KRW 1.16 trillion. The Jango Treasury is a submarine built on technology that was passed down in Germany 20 years ago. The future of our defense industry is here. In a short period of time, there is no technology that can be made in your head.

[출처] KFX,‘4.5세대’이지만 운영비 F35A 절반,5세대까지 업그레이드 가능|작성자 오동균

https://blog.naver.com/odk1956/221743572394

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that's not the prototype of the KFX fighter


If anything, Iran boasted about having this:

yet save for some spurious photos , verifiable videos of it in the sky is still nowhere in sight, 7 years since its first public announcement.

What you have failed to understand is that it was a google translate version, he never said anything about finished prototype ( I am sure he and most indonesian member here understand that it was a full scale mock up being displayed at the show because we pretty much following the news and development closely, and @Indos never being a blue pilled citizen that spewing stuff about KFX is finished and its bla... bla... and can feckin bla... bla... while bla... bla.. and bla...) the problem is that the word 'physical model' and you assumed it was a finished working prototype, google translate is not that perfect any way so there is a possibility that in the actual article the writer write about a full scale mock up and somehow the google translate mess it up, and you went full batshet crazy. I don't know korean language so its just my assumption, Any member from SK maybe can clear things out( if there is any). Thank you and gamsahabnida.

 

[ohmrlobalobayeh]

What you have failed to understand is that it was a google translate version, he never said anything about finished prototype ( I am sure he and most indonesian member here understand that it was a full scale mock up being displayed at the show because we pretty much following the news and development closely, and @Indos never being a blue pilled citizen that spewing stuff about KFX is finished and its bla... bla... and can feckin bla... bla... while bla... bla.. and bla...) the problem is that the word 'physical model' and you assumed it was a finished working prototype, google translate is not that perfect any way so there is a possibility that in the actual article the writer write about a full scale mock up and somehow the google translate mess it up, and you went full batshet crazy. I don't know korean language so its just my assumption, Any member from SK maybe can clear things out( if there is any). Thank you and gamsahabnida.

Nope, your post doesn't refute my point that the kfx is a vaporware- at all. in fact, u supported it.

Thanks.

 

[NEKONEKO]

kfx is a vaporware

ΞＶΞＮ ＢΞＴＴΣＲ
( ☆ ͜ʖ ☆)

Thanks

Karibu

 

[Indos]

Elbit Systems Awarded $43 Million Contract to Equip Next-Gen Korean Fighter Jets in Development with TF/TA Systems
Haifa, Israel, February 6, 2020 – Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT, TASE: ESLT)

(“Elbit Systems”) announced today that it was awarded a $43 million contract from Hanwha Systems Co. Ltd. (272210:Korea SE) to equip the Next Generation Korean fighter jets in development, with embedded Terrain Following-Terrain Avoidance (TF/TA) systems. The contract will be performed over a six-year period.

Embedding Elbit Systems’ TF/TA solution enables fighter jets to fly and maneuver safely at low-altitudes, in zero visibility and harsh weather conditions (Instrument Meteorological Conditions), thereby enhancing their capability to operate undetected in hostile territory. Interfacing with the autopilot system, the TF/TA system to be supplied fuses data from a range of onboard sensors and a digital terrain elevation data base, together with flight performance characteristics, enabling the aircraft to maintain optimal altitude throughout the mission.

Yoram Shmuely, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace Division, said: “We are proud to be in a position to increase the capabilities of Air Forces through joint development with Hanwha Systems Co. Ltd.“.

https://elbitsystems.com/pr-new/elb...ghter-jets-in-development-with-tf-ta-systems/

 

[Indos]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1230990703599050753

I think Korean need to give some of Indonesian demand on the renegotiation in order to convince Jokowi to continue the program.

 

[Indos]

Coronavirus outbreak has hit Sout Korea but so far there is no report that the virus has affected the KFX/IFX program. Around 100 Indonesian engineers involved in the program look like to be still working in South Korea to finish the first prototype. There is no report saying otherwise.

Luckily the critical design has almost been completed in November last year and IMO it will already be completed at this late February.

 

[Indos]

https://www.facebook.com/ROKArmedFo...q5HaBkRItFe7YJFdR2Xxp0H5twBUFG7my6_lkLx9Quxx-

Defense journalist Yu Young-won was granted exclusive interview with Hong Yoon-seong, the lead Hanwha Systems developer in charge of the AESA radar being developed for the KF-X project.
The following is the summary:
- Development is going smooth and on schedule. Mr. Hong says that they're currently at around "50%" progress.

- There was a lot of risk involved with indigenous radar development and so they worked with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to mitigate it

One way was to prove that they can attain level of technology required for complete development, and they did so by creating a prototype for the hardware (HW) aspect of the development. Once the hardware was confirmed to work, they would proceed with the rest of the system by each stage, which includes software (SW) development..

Hanwha Systems developed radar antenna and power supply, which were then integrated and tested with ELTA Systems signal processor. This was to test the feasibility of using indigenously developed HW for aircraft use.

By November 2019, 10 overseas and 6 domestic aerial testing sorties had been carried out. These tests proved that the HW works as intended and that development can continue to the next stage.

- While exact data is classified, KF-X AESA radar's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mode provides high-quality image up to an object smaller than 1 meter.

- KF-X AESA radar can detect and track hundreds of ground targets, and this capability can be applied to hunting down North Korea's transporter erector launchers (TEL).

(The radar has air-to-air, air-to-ground, and air-to-sea modes, which can be used simultaneously)

- Prototype KF-X AESA radar had around 1,088 Transmitter-Receiver Module (TRM).
By 2023, the number is expected to increase by 20% to have around 1,200~1,300 modules. (F-22's radar has 2,000 and F-35's radar has 1,200)

- KF-X AESA radar is expected to perform better than AN/APG-83 being installed on KF-16V.

- Maximum detection range is said to be around 200 km (unknown against which-sized target)

- Flight testing done in Israel was said to be highly satisfactory


Current iteration of KF-X AESA Radar HW prototype

 

[Indos]

The thing that needs to be corrected is the statement in the article saying that KFX will get inferior engine than F35. It is in someway try to say that it has less power then F 35. It is not true since KFX has double engine compared to F 35 single engine. KFX uses General Electric F 414 engine which is also used by Superhornet.

What the KF-X Stealth Fighter Program Means for the Future of South Korean Military Aviation
The KF-X is expected to be one of the world’s most successful fifth generation fighter programs.

By Abraham Ait
March 07, 2020

South Korea’s T-50 Golden Eagle.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Republic of Korea Armed Forces

Following the success of its F-50 fourth generation light fighter program, which has been widely exported and proven highly effective in combat in Iraq and the Philippines, South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has sought to develop a fifth generation fighter under the KF-X program. The program is highly ambitious, with South Korea being relatively new to the field of military aviation — particularly so when considering that only two countries in the world, China and the United States, have deployed indigenously developed fifth generation fighters in active Air Force units. The KF-X program was announced in 2001, four years before the United States inducted its F-22 Raptor into service as the wold’s first fifth generation fighter. Indonesian Aerospace began a second partner in the program alongside KAI in 2010. The Korean side held 80 percent of the shares in the program while Indonesia, with its lower defense expenditure, less advanced military industrial base and smaller planned purchases, held the remaining 20 percent.

The KF-X was to be a light single seat twin engine jet with advanced stealth capabilities, and would prioritize a low operational cost and ease of maintenance which would allow South Korea’s Air Force to field it in large numbers. This would also be key to successfully marketing the jet for export, with Southeast Asian in particular notably prizing then F-50 for precisely this reason. South Korea’s fighter fleet is among the largest in the world today, and with much of the fleet fast ageing there is room to induct several hundred KF-X jets into service. This is key to ensuring a considerable scale of production and a cost-effective final product.

The fighter is expected to replace South Korea’s Vietnam War era F-4E Phantoms and F-5E Tigers — the latter which is its most widely deployed fighter today with around 175 in service. Alongside two F-4 units each of 30 Phantoms, third generation jets are currently in service in ten squadrons. If all are replaced with the KF-X, it would allow for a considerable production run for domestic use alone exceeding the expected production runs of all other fifth generation fighter programs in the world other than the American F-35 and possibly the Chinese J-20. The higher operational cost of the KF-X, particularly compared to the F-5, will likely mean that either the number of squadrons will be cut or that squadrons will be made considerably smaller as the Tigers are phased out for new stealth fighters.

Beyond replacing South Korea’s third generation fighters, the KF-X also has the potential to replace a large portion of the Air Force fourth generation fleet — currently comprised of F-16 and F-15K platforms. South Korea received its first F-16 fighters in the 1980s and currently fields 163 of the aircraft, alongside 60 of the more recently acquired F-15s. The F-15K is still a very modern heavyweight jet highly capable in both strike and air to air roles, and neither the F-35 nor the KF-X will be able to match its flight performance or its endurance. The F-16, designed as a lighter and cheaper analogue to the F-15, is increasingly considered to be bordering on obsolescence, with officials from Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen to U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command chief General Mike Hostage predicting the aircraft would become obsolete in the near future. While regular Korean upgrades to the design can potentially extend its service life, particularly for later production variants, it is likely that South Korea’s Air Force will seek to retire at least a large portion of the fleet for replacement with the KF-X. The new stealth fighter’s relatively low operational cost will make this quite affordable, and will represent a serious upgrade to the South Korean fleet.

Beyond acquisitions for its own Air Force, the KF-X is expected to be marketed for export with Southeast Asian nations in particular expected to be leading clients. Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and possibly even Iraq could be leading clients for the fighter, with all of these operating the F-50 and either the F-16 or the F-5 which the KF-X was designed to replace. While less stealthy than the F-35 and integrating a less powerful engine, the KF-X’s advantages go beyond its lower operational cost, easier maintenance and lower price. The new fighter is expected to be faster and able to operate at higher altitudes than the F-16 and F-35, and will have access to a range of advanced munition types. Most notable among these are an indigenous derivative of the European Taurus bunker buster long range cruise missile — one of the most capable in the world currently deployed by F-15K strike fighters, and Meteor long range air to air missiles which have approximately twice the range of the AIM-120C AMRAAMS used by the F-35. The fighters are also expected to be compatible with American missile classes, meaning they could likely begin to integrate AIM-260 long range air to air missiles which are expected to begin to enter service in the second half of the decade. These missiles are expected to be faster, more maneuverable, longer ranged, more precise and cheaper than the European Meteor. Should South Korea’s contract to acquire Taurus missiles be taken as a precedent, the country could seek technology transfers as part of its contract to acquire Meteor missiles which could in turn allow to manufacture missiles with similar capabilities domestically.

Based on the precedents set for very high performance and cost effective weapons systems set by South Korea’s defense sector — from K9 Thunder artillery and K2 Black Panther battle tanks to the F-50 fighter and Hyunmoo-3 cruise missile, the KF-X is expected to be one of the world’s most successful fifth generation fighter programs — quite possibly the most successful outside China and the United States. With Russia’s Su-57 program stymied by a very small production run, Turkey’s seemingly overly ambitious TF-X program heavily reliant on foreign technologies and coming from a country with a much more limited domestic technological base, and the Pakistani Project AZM fighter expected to be built around Chinese rather than indigenous technologies and place a heavy emphasis on cost reduction much like the preceding JF-17, this leaves the KF-X as a leader among indigenous fifth generation programs outside China and the United States.

Enjoying this article? Click here to subscribe for full access. Just $5 a month.

Abraham Ait is a military analyst specializing in Asia-Pacific security and the role of air power in modern warfare. He is chief editor of Military Watch Magazine.

https://thediplomat.com/2020/03/wha...the-future-of-south-korean-military-aviation/

 

[Indos]

Latest Video

 

[NEKONEKO]

KFX will get inferior engine than F35

But that is true tho, F35 have superior engine, more than twice of thrust compared to F414 but kfx is faster.
Kfx designed to have max speed of 1.8 mach, a little bit faster than F35 with 1.6 mach.
Cmiiw

 

[Indos]

But that is true tho, F35 have superior engine, more than twice of thrust compared to F414 but kfx is faster.
Kfx designed to have max speed of 1.8 mach, a little bit faster than F35 with 1.6 mach.
Cmiiw

That is right if we calculate the thrust on a single engine, but KFX/IFX uses twin engine so the thrust is actually not much different compared to F 35.

 

[Indos]

Single and Double seat KFX/IFX design

https://blog.naver.com/koreaaerospace2030/221824177350

 

[Indos]

South Korea hopes that the KFX / IFX aircraft project will resume soon

Tuesday, January 14, 2020 20:20 WIB

Because there was a change of cabinet after the election in Indonesia last year, efforts to advance the fighter plane development project were delayed

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The South Korean government hopes that the Korean Fighter Experimental / Indonesian Fighter Experimental (KFX / IFX) fighter project developed with Indonesia can be continued soon.

"Because there was a change of cabinet after the elections in Indonesia last year, efforts to advance the fighter aircraft development project have been delayed," South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Kim Chang-beom told a media briefing in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Therefore in December 2019, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo visited Jakarta and met with Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to continue talks on developing a fighter aircraft.

The discussion is expected to pave the way for negotiations so that the project can be carried out immediately.

"Right now we are waiting for a return visit from Pak (Defense Minister) Prabowo to Korea to continue the previous talks," Ambassador Kim said.

Also read: Indonesian KFX / IFX fighter specifications can be different The

Ministry of Defense is currently reviewing the KFX / IFX fighter aircraft cooperation project that was initiated a number of years ago considering that this type of high-tech fighter is needed to strengthen Indonesia's main defense system (defense equipment).

The KFX / IFX fighter development project was delayed around 2009, before then on January 7, 2016 Indonesia and South Korea signed a cost sharing agreement) worth 1.3 billion US dollars.

For this long-term project, the total investment of the two countries reaches US $ 8 billion which will involve the state budget of each country.

In this collaboration, the Korean government bears the usual 60 percent of aircraft development, while the other 20 percent is borne by the Korean aircraft manufacturing company (KAI), and the remaining 20 are the responsibility of the Indonesian government.

The two countries are targeting the production of 168 KFX / IFX aircraft with a division that is adjusted to their respective contributions, namely 120 units for South Korea and 48 units for Indonesia.

Also read: The process of developing KFX / IFX fighter aircraft reached 20 percent

The KFX / IFX aircraft will be developed through three phases: technological or concept development, manufacturing engineering or prototype development, then mass production processes.

Indonesia and South Korea plan to make 8 prototype aircraft, with details of 6 prototypes that can be flown and 2 prototypes that are deliberately not flown for the purpose of structural testing.

The target is that in 2021 the first prototype can be completed, then followed by other prototypes before mass production is carried out after certification.

KFX / IFX fighter planes are said to have special abilities, among others, to damage the enemy's electronic system (electronic jammer). This type of aircraft is also included in the semi-stealth category because even though the engine is not detected, the heat from the weapons installed outside the fuselage can still be read by radar.

In addition, this supersonic aircraft is equipped with a radar system that can capture the movements of opponents from all directions.

Also read: Menkopolhukam: KFX / IFX fighter aircraft development seek return buy
Also read: Menkopolhukam renegotiate KFX / IFX fighter development

https://www.antaranews.com/berita/1...rap-proyek-pesawat-kfx-ifx-segera-dilanjutkan

There is some mistake on the news which said the program is delayed in 2009, the truth is the delay happen in the period of 2014-2015. This article is the latest news about on going renegotiation between Indonesian and Korea in KFX/IFX program. I expect our Defense Minister will visit South Korea soon after the Covid 19 outbreak over to discuss the program with South Korea Defense Minister. So far there are only rumors about the program development.

 

[Indos]

South Korea to complete development of supersonic ship-launched anti-ship missile in ‘near future’
Dae Young Kim, Seoul - Jane's Defence Weekly
14 April 2020
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Officials from South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) have revealed that the country is set to complete development of a supersonic ship-launched anti-ship cruise missile system “in the near future”, and that the country is planning to develop an air-launched variant of the weapon that can be deployed from Republic of Korea Air Force’s (RoKAF’s) future KF-X fighter aircraft.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the classified nature of the programme, the officials told Jane’s in late March that the country’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) had been in charge of the development, with the system expected to be capable of targeting larger ships, potentially as part of an enemy carrier group.


https://www.janes.com/article/95486...hip-launched-anti-ship-missile-in-near-future

 

[Indos]

Full Scale Mock Up