Fighter KF-21 is preparing for the first flight
South Korean aviation the industry continues to work on the promising fighter KF-21. Right now, preparations are underway for flight tests, which may begin in the very near future. In addition, the construction of several prototype aircraft continues, which over the next few years will join the tests and help to work out the design and determine its real characteristics.
First experienced
South Korea has been planning to create its own modern fighter since the early 2015s, but for a long time this idea remained at the level of theory and research. Only in XNUMX did Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) receive a real order to develop the KF-X fighter.
In September 2019, the customer and the developer approved the finished technical design, which made it possible to launch the construction of prototype aircraft. The assembly of this equipment is carried out at the KAI plant in Sacheon. There is also a flight test station, which will test equipment. It was reported that several fighters in different configurations would be built for ground and flight tests.
In April 2021, KAI Corporation held a presentation of the first prototype KF-X with serial number "001". At this stage, the project was assigned a new KF-21 index and the name Boramae ("Falcon"). In the near future, it was planned to pass it through all the necessary checks, and at the beginning of 2022 the first flight was expected. In addition, the construction of the next few prototypes continued.
However, the start of testing has shifted to the right. In June, it became known that KAI had begun partial disassembly and rebuilding of the fuselage of the first Falcon. The reason for this was some errors in the design of the airframe. Their nature and perceived risks were not specified.
Ground tests
To date, all identified shortcomings have been corrected, and preparations are underway for the first flight. So, in the last days of June, South Korean television showed a report from the KAI flight test station in Sacheon, where the first start-up of the prototype aircraft's engines took place. The power plant worked normally and confirmed all the characteristics.
Just a few days later, on July 2, a new phase of testing began. An experienced KF-21 was taken to the airfield for ground checks. The fighter moves independently along the taxiways. The first high-speed runs along the runway were also performed. Takeoff attempts have not yet been made.
According to the original plans, the first flight of the experienced Boramae was to take place in early 2022. At the end of June, it was reported that flight tests would begin this fall. However, according to the latest reports, the fighter could take to the air in the coming weeks, before the end of July. Some sources even give the exact date - July 22. Whether such reports correspond to reality will become clear in just a couple of weeks.
Aircraft for testing
In 2019, it became known that KAI would build a fairly large batch of aircraft for testing. For tests in the air, six machines of two main modifications are intended. Two more will be built for ground testing. Such plans have so far been only partially implemented, but the developer corporation still has a significant margin of time to complete the necessary work.
To date, two out of eight planned aircraft have left the assembly shop. The first last year was board "001" in its original configuration. Not so long ago, in May, a prototype with the number "004" was handed over to the flight test station. This is a combat training version of a fighter with a two-seat cockpit. At the moment, this aircraft is undergoing the necessary training, and within the next few months it may take off for the first time.
Earlier, various sources mentioned that there are several more experienced fighters in the KAI workshops at various stages of construction. The number of vehicles and the current stage of construction are unknown. At the same time, it cannot be ruled out that the final number of prototypes will differ from the planned one. Thus, successes or difficulties on different trials can lead to a reduction in their number.
Flight tests of one or two prototype KF-21s will begin in the coming months. Already next year, the first flights of the following aircraft are expected, and later the number of flight samples may increase again. According to current plans, flight tests of the entire experimental fleet will continue until 2025-26. and will allow you to work out all the features of the design, operation, combat use, etc. Naturally, some shifts are possible due to the novelty of the aircraft and other products.
Future rearmament
In the foreseeable future, in parallel with testing and fine-tuning of prototype equipment, KAI Corporation will begin preparing an assembly line for mass production. The assembly of the first batch of equipment is expected to be launched as early as 2026, almost simultaneously with the end of flight tests.
The customer, represented by the Ministry of Defense of South Korea, wants to receive 140 new aircraft. At the same time, it is required that production quickly pick up high rates. So, by the end of 2028, it is planned to build and transfer to the air force up to 40 fighters - up to 15-20 aircraft per year. In 2029-32 the pace will rise to 25 aircraft annually, which will make it possible to build another hundred. Aircraft in combat and combat training configurations will go into production. At the same time, the number and shares of equipment of various modifications have not yet been reported. Probably, the two-seat fighter will be outnumbered by the basic version.
Plans for a more distant future have not yet been announced. Boramae may remain in the series or give way to a hypothetical next-generation fighter.
The KF-21 is being created for South Korea's own Air Force and according to their tactical and technical requirements. However, KAI plans to enter the international market. Materials for this project are already being demonstrated at South Korean and foreign air shows. They attract the attention of visitors, but so far nothing is known about possible buyers of the fighter. However, the situation may change in the near future - according to the results of the first flight and other tests.
Visible progress
In general, there is clear and visible progress in the project of the South Korean multifunctional fighter KAI KF-21. In just three to four years, KAI Corporation was able to develop a technical design, and it took about two more years to build the first prototype. Then it took a year to rebuild it and correct the identified deficiencies and prepare for testing.
The 001 aircraft is now taxiing and jogling, bringing it closer to its first takeoff. In addition, the second experimental "004" is expected to enter the airfield, and several more aircraft will follow. In the medium and long term, full-scale and comprehensive tests are to be carried out, which will take at least 3-4 years.
Thus, over the past few years, the South Korean aviation industry has shown the fundamental ability to develop a modern combat aircraft and build prototypes. Now she has to determine how successful such a project turned out and whether it meets the requirements of the customer.
In a few years, the problem of launching mass production in the interests of our own Air Force will become urgent. In addition, the search for foreign customers will begin. However, these stages of the new project are directly dependent on ongoing work. It will be possible to switch to a series, deliveries and sales only after successful tests. Whether the Sokol will cope with them will become known in a few years. In the meantime, the main goal is the first flight.
Information