[South Korea] KF-X Korean Fighter prototype about to begin final assembly

[Indos]

Do South Korea and Indonesia have resale authorization for the engines? If so, it can be a nice stop gap acquisition for Pakistan, especially given how cheap these planes are relative to European fighter jets. @Bilal Khan (Quwa)

I believe the case with this plane will be similar like T 50 Golden Eagle from South Korea. I believe any buyer doesnt need US approval to buy T 50 Golden Eagle but some how US government still can block the sales if they dont like the plane to be sold to the country that he doesnt like.

So KFX/IFX in my opinion will get difficulty to sell to country like Iran for example. It is why Arab nations can be one of the customers since they dont have any problem with US and also favor weapon coming from US and other western nations.

If we talk about Pakistan, US will likely to allow the sales since F414 engine is actually not too much different with F 16 Block 52 engine that Pakistan currently has. Other sensitive avionics are also Korean made like AESA radar.

Talking about the engine, I believe KFX/IFX customer will not deal with GE if they need spare parts or buy the engine but with Hanwa Korea who has license to build it inside the country for KFX/IFX program.

U.S. reportedly nixes South Korean sale of planes - UPI.com

U.S. says no to sale of U.S.-South Korean developed trainer jet to Uzbekistan.

www.upi.com

 

[Philip the Arab]

I believe the case with this plane will be similar like T 50 Golden Eagle from South Korea. I believe any buyer doesnt need US approval to buy T 50 Golden Eagle but some how US government still can block the sales if they dont like the plane to be sold to the country that he doesnt like.

So KFX/IFX in my opinion will get difficulty to sell to country like Iran for example. It is why Arab nations can be one of the customers since they dont have any problem with US and also favor weapon coming from US and other western nations.

If we talk about Pakistan, US will likely to allow the sales since F414 engine is actually not too much different with F 16 Block 52 engine that Pakistan currently has. Other sensitive avionics are also Korean made like AESA radar.

Talking about the engine, I believe KFX/IFX customer will not deal with GE if they need spare parts or buy the engine but with Hanwa Korea who has license to build it inside the country for KFX/IFX program.

U.S. reportedly nixes South Korean sale of planes - UPI.com

U.S. says no to sale of U.S.-South Korean developed trainer jet to Uzbekistan.

www.upi.com

Yeah I think most likely customers are Jordan, Bahrain, maybe Egypt, maybe Saudi to replace Tornado and older F-15s, probably not UAE with F-35 purchase.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

What is so interesting? The F-414, EJ-200, and M-88 are still very state of the art engines, with a thrust to weight ratio of approximately 9.

It wasn't always the Americans though. The Germans in WW2 were the most ahead in gas turbine technology (i.e. Me-262 turbojet fighter). Then the US and Soviet Union were relatively close in turbofan technology for most of the Cold War until the early 90s, when the USSR collapsed. Of course as of recently, the European military turbofan makers have fallen behind the US, especially given the introduction of the F135 ... the Russians have fallen even further behind.

I also think the US engine industry has consolidated. They are ahead, for sure, but there aren't that many bleeding-edge new engines (relatively speaking, as you go back generations you'll find more and more US engines). So, in the long-run, it might be that only 1-2 US companies are leading with engines -- all others (US and otherwise) are behind?

Do South Korea and Indonesia have resale authorization for the engines? If so, it can be a nice stop gap acquisition for Pakistan, especially given how cheap these planes are relative to European fighter jets. @Bilal Khan (Quwa)

I said it earlier, but once the KFX flies, it'll be on the PAF's radar for 1-2 years. We'll ask for it, ROK will try to get US approvals -- and it might -- and we may even get a contract going. But such a deal will likely fall through for one reason or another, e.g., the high-cost of custom weapon integration.

This may go the path of the PAF's Mirage 2000/-5 saga. However, the PAF may not be too bugged because, well, the J-35 will be very similar. If the Chinese offer the J-35 for export (and I think they might, an ITAR-free alternative to the KFX basically), then, it's all cool.

 

[Ali_Baba]

The KFX Cockpit graphics seem to suggest 6 internal BVR AAMs, if that is indeed true, it is damn impressive for sure.

Korea Aerospace is slowly becoming a bit of a powerhouse for sure, and it would interesting to see what lessons they offer to those who want to follow their path.

PS, I dont see Pakistan getting the KF-X as India will block that for sure. So, lets take that off the table. It is not logically possible. India's options for steath(other than some DODO attempt) are more limited than Pakistan's right now. The Indian's can pretend to themselves that the Su-57 is stealthy and rejoin that programme, or bite the bullet and for the F35 with all that entails. Tempest, and the EU stealth project is too immature for India to consider right now, so KF-X is actually the closet that India can get to something stealth like, and with the required level of TOT...

India does have one massive advantage over Pakistan though, that is money. I suspect, if they get a wiff of PAF going for the KF-X, India will then step in with a imaginary order for 100+ planes, and then take the Koreans for a yarn for 10+ years, like they did with the west on the MMRCA programme.

Pakistan has firmer plans and more real options, via J-35, and the Turkish stealth platform, TF-X.

 

[Indos]

Yeah I think most likely customers are Jordan, Bahrain, maybe Egypt, maybe Saudi to replace Tornado and older F-15s, probably not UAE with F-35 purchase.

I dont know why UAE is so obsessive about F 35 ??? Even they link it with their recent political maneuvere to have a diplomatic and trade relation with Israel.

Their main adversary is Iran and that country doesnt even have modern fighter jet. Maybe better for UAE to invest more on anti missile system than buying F 35, considering they have already got good and modern Air Force. Or maybe UAE start to look Turkey as another adversary ??

 

[Nasr]

I believe the case with this plane will be similar like T 50 Golden Eagle from South Korea. I believe any buyer doesnt need US approval to buy T 50 Golden Eagle but some how US government still can block the sales if they dont like the plane to be sold to the country that he doesnt like.

So KFX/IFX in my opinion will get difficulty to sell to country like Iran for example. It is why Arab nations can be one of the customers since they dont have any problem with US and also favor weapon coming from US and other western nations.

If we talk about Pakistan, US will likely to allow the sales since F414 engine is actually not too much different with F 16 Block 52 engine that Pakistan currently has. Other sensitive avionics are also Korean made like AESA radar.

Talking about the engine, I believe KFX/IFX customer will not deal with GE if they need spare parts or buy the engine but with Hanwa Korea who has license to build it inside the country for KFX/IFX program.

U.S. reportedly nixes South Korean sale of planes - UPI.com

U.S. says no to sale of U.S.-South Korean developed trainer jet to Uzbekistan.

www.upi.com

Looks impressive! Good work South Korea. Having said that, it is a pity that a talented and determined nation such as South Korea is under defacto control of the zionist-west. With a permanent american military presence in their country and a psychotic leader in the north. South Korea is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Really is sad to see nations which are by nature disciplined, organized and determined, be under the proverbial thumb of zionist-scum. Japan too is a very talented nation, but unfortunately they too are a host nation to the "Parasitic Cancer" which is zionism. The Chinese, the Vietnamese, Taiwan and even the South East Asian nations are a very talented and determined people. But the zionist-western scum have always managed to play these nations against each other.

Imagine, if nations of Asian Continent .... like Japan, South Korea, North Korea, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines formed an economic, political and military alliance. Then america, britain, france, australia, netherlands, canada or any other western nation would shut-up and stay on their side of the world.

 

[Philip the Arab]

I dont know why UAE is so obsessive about F 35 ??? Even they link it with their recent political maneuvere to have a diplomatic and trade relation with Israel.

Their main adversary is Iran and that country doesnt even have modern fighter jet. Maybe better for UAE to invest more on anti missile system than buying F 35, considering they have already got good and modern Air Force. Or maybe UAE start to look Turkey as another adversary ??

Turkey is main adversary and UAE wants to become a regional power by having a stronger airforce. F-35 is what is needed for this option but I think K-FX may still have a chance at replacing Mirage 2000 in 10 or 15 years. It can be a fighter that is worse than the F-35 but better than regional opponents fighter jets and work in a high-low combination with F-35 and UAE weapon integration. UAE-South Korea relationship is very good as well probably they are closest ally of South Korea in the middle east and are already buying military equipment from them as well as missile projects for example.


Weapons from UAE that can be integrated for UAE package this would good for Egpyt for example if US approves it to use an ally weapon package.

 

[Deino]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1370396690046402560

 

[Deino]

Roll out ceremony in livestream ... now:

 

[MMM-E]

Turkey is main adversary and UAE wants to become a regional power by having a stronger airforce

Your İsraeli friends said that Turkey is main adversary to Arabs ?


what did Turkey do against The Uae ? .... nothing



Turkey's rivals are İran in the Middle East . and France in the Eastern Mediterranean - in Libya , not tiny-weak The Uae

if regional super power Turkey wants , so easy to turn Dubai into dark age , and nobody can save tiny the UAE


even Turkey doesnt need Airforce to turn Dubai into dark age
Turkey owns Ballistic and Cruise Missile technologies with range of 1.000-2.500 km to hit every Country in the region

also Turkey develops MMU stealth Fighter Jet and MIUS stealth UCAV to be best in the region
also unique technology Radar Electronic Warfare Systems , 600-1.500 km Early Warning AESA Radars and HISAR - SIPER - GUMS Air Defense Systems to intercept Fighter Jets and Cruise/Ballistic Missiles

also Corvettes , Frigates , Destroyers , Submarines and Aircraft Carriers


Arabs should know their place and stop being as İsraeli pawns against Turkey
Turkey is 30 years ahead of 22 Arab Countries combined in military technology and Industry

and You know nothing about Turkey who will become global power again in 2030s

tiny The UAE can not become even regional power




and You better pray for president ERDOGAN who spent over $100 billion for humanitarian aid to muslim Countries ( most of them are Arabs ) , instead of buying hundreds of Eurofighter , Rafale or F-35 , SU-35 to attack The Uae

Turkey is not adversary to any Arab Country , if Turkey had such a thought , then Turkey would spend $50 billion for buying hundreds of Fighter Jets to attack Arabs , instead of spending $50 billion for Arab refugees since 2012

 

[TNT]

Strange that korean aerospace could not deploy DSI on this. This shows chinese are ahead.

 

[Trango Towers]

South Korea through Hanwa will license produce F 414 engine.

Won't get export licences....Americans always hold the cards

 

[Whizzack]

Strange that korean aerospace could not deploy DSI on this. This shows chinese are ahead.

DSI is just one of the available methods to help mask / hide the engine inlet... it's not the the only one nor it is the very best one either.. in some flight regimes, DSI inlet can actually decrease performance compared to non DSI inlet... Gen 5 Air superiority fighters like the F-22 and Su-57 doesn't use it.. F-35 uses it but it was designed as a strike fighter and not as an air superiority fighter.. so basically whether to use DSI or not, it boils down to design options...

That being said, China being ahead of Sokor in Jet fighter design and manufacturing is true...