Come on, get in, here's some fresh "Boramay" for everyone!
Long ago, in 2010, two countries, South Korea and Indonesia, agreed to collaborate on the aircraft of the future. Indonesia, however, dropped out of the project, but that's perfectly normal for them. The Koreans, however, persisted, and in 2022, the prototype took flight.
There were those who didn't believe the project would work. There were those who didn't care at all. And then there were those who watched developments very closely. The South Korean KF-21, like the Turkish KAAN, is very attractive to countries that lack the funds to buy European or American aircraft and the courage to acquire Russian ones.
It's no wonder Peru, after news of the KF-21's serial production launch, abruptly dropped the F-16 purchase from its agenda. "We were misunderstood, it was taken out of context, and anyway, we don't have the money"—that's the kind of vaguely worded explanation they gave.
Considering that Peru is an importer of armored vehicles from South Korea, it is very likely that the aircraft is of great interest to the military of that country.
And now, a moment of triumph: South Korea has unveiled the first production prototype of its own KF-21 fighter jet. This significant milestone in the program also demonstrates how quickly it is progressing: just over five years have passed since the unveiling of the fighter's first prototype. The development schedule is particularly impressive compared to other next-generation fighter programs, although Seoul has resorted to some contortions to meet such a tight deadline.
Naturally, everything was pompous in typical Korean style. What can I say, these guys know how to make a show out of anything.
The first production KF-21, also known as the Boramae, which means "hawk" in Korean, is a two-seat fighter jet unveiled at a ceremony at the headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, southeast of Seoul.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung himself conducted the show. He told guests that the fighter jet symbolized "South Korea's commitment to self-sufficiency in defense" and added that he intends to make the country one of the world's four leading defense powers.
South Korea finally got it weapons to protect the world with our own technologies - not only on land and at sea, but also in the air,
— Lee added.Very... pompous. Especially about the world's fourth-largest power. Although in this world, anything like that happens. There's no doubt that South Korea is quickly becoming a major player in defense production, and this is increasingly reflected in its exports.
Besides the KF-21, Lee also took time to talk about the K9 self-propelled howitzer and the anti-aircraftrocket Cheongung complex of the country, which ensured profitable sales abroad. In the military sphere aviation The T-50/FA-50, an advanced jet trainer/light combat aircraft produced by the Korea Aerospace Corporation, has also proven itself to be a promising model for international sales.
Returning to the KF-21, it's worth noting that this fighter was developed to replace the F-4E Phantom IIs, now retired from service in South Korea, and the F-5E/F Tiger IIs still in service. Things aren't as bad in the South Korean Air Force as it might seem given the information about the F-4 and F-5, which are flying anachronisms. They have F-15s and F-16s, albeit not the newest variants, and 20 F-35s have been ordered, with the KF-21 now in line. It all makes perfect sense.
The program was officially launched in 2016, followed by the first prototype in April 2021 and the prototype's maiden flight in July 2022. In May 2023, the KF-21 was conditionally declared "combat-ready."
A pilot leaves the first KF-21 prototype at a rollout ceremony in Sacheon in April 2021.
A total of six prototypes were built and tested, two of which were two-seat versions of the aircraft.
According to previously announced plans, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is expected to receive 40 KF-21 aircraft by 2028, and its fleet is expected to number 120 units by 2032.
As for how South Korea reached this level so quickly, it must be acknowledged that the Koreans took an approach that is markedly different from other next-generation fighter programs.
The KF-21 was never marketed as a fifth-generation fighter with all the advanced features and capabilities that go with it. Instead, Seoul calls it a "4,5th-generation fighter," using terminology most often used to describe new or significantly upgraded fighters introduced in the 1990s.
Unlike a "true" fifth-generation fighter, the KF-21's airframe isn't primarily designed for stealth, and its sensor integration is significantly lower than, say, the F-35's. However, simpler doesn't necessarily mean worse, given the level of electronics development in South Korea.
For the Republic of Korea Air Force, a more sophisticated fighter isn't as relevant, as they're already receiving F-35As from the US. Of course, the Penguin has already received a lot of praise, especially for its electronic systems. So a simpler and more reliable aircraft would be welcome. Overall, the approach itself is surprisingly pragmatic: the Koreans haven't rushed to pursue generational numbers, building an aircraft capable of flying into space, and so on.
Republic of Korea Air Force F-35A fighter jet
At the same time, the KF-21 will boast numerous advanced features that would be suitable for a more ambitious project. These include an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and an infrared search and track (IRST) system. Its armament will also include MBDA Meteor ramjet-powered air-to-air missiles and, reportedly, locally produced long-range cruise missiles.
Concept art of a KF-21 armed with four semi-recessed Meteor air-to-air missiles, IRIS-T self-defense missiles, and a pair of JDAM guided bombs.
There is scope for further improvements that would bring the KF-21 closer to fifth-generation fighters in performance. The initial KF-21 carries weapons externally or semi-conformally, although the upcoming Block 3 version of the aircraft is planned to feature internal weapons bays.
Other advanced versions of the aircraft are also being considered, including a jamming platform, the concept of which was unveiled at the rollout ceremony.
Naturally, in the spirit of the times, South Korea is also implementing the concept of joint use of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles to further expand the capabilities of the KF-21.
Seoul expects its KF-21 fighters to work closely with its own unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which will expand the capabilities of the manned fighter and maximize its combat weight. In this regard, the two-seat version of the aircraft should have a particular advantage, as the rear cockpit can accommodate a dedicated operator. dronesBut this is a separate concept that requires careful development.
A picture, of course, but pictures are where it all usually starts. A well-armed KF-21 (with an additional targeting system on an external sling) carries out a mission alongside three stealth fighters. drones
In terms of technical specifications, the KF-21 is no slouch either: according to some reports, its kinematic performance is superior to that of the F-16C. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves and wait for official releases.
So, what did the Koreans achieve? By avoiding some aspects of fighter development that traditionally require enormous time and resources, the Korea Institute of Aeronautics managed to outpace many potential competitors. At the same time, the five-year gap between the prototype and the first production model, compared to the 11-year gap between the first flight of the X-35 Joint Strike Fighter prototype and the first flight of the first production F-35A AF-6, is impressive.
In Russia, a full 10 years also passed between the first flight of the T-50 prototype in 2010 and the maiden flight of the first production Su-57 in 2020. So, the Koreans truly surprised many with the speed of their project development.
This doesn't mean the KF-21 was without its problems. In particular, a difficult relationship developed with Indonesia, which joined the program as a junior partner but then became embroiled in disputes over cost and work allocation, leading to the junior partner's eventual collapse.
And now, according to recent reports, Seoul is planning a deal to export 16 KF-21 fighters to Indonesia. President Lee also stated that South Korea will seek other partners to further enhance the competitiveness of its defense industry, possibly including the KF-21.
The KF-21 prototype makes a test flight during the Seoul International Air Force Exhibition.
South Korea is increasingly developing a wide range of domestically produced air-to-air weapons to avoid dependence on arms imports while simultaneously being able to offer them for export independently, without facing potential restrictions such as the US government's International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Given South Korea's growing reputation as a supplier of high-tech weapons, the KF-21 could well become a highly attractive export product. Meanwhile, the fighter's serial production brings the first delivery to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) closer, underscoring the ongoing modernization of the air force.
Exporting aircraft isn't an option for everyone. South Korea hasn't entered the international arms market as a supplier just yet. Moreover, it has transcended its status as a regional arms supplier. Previously, customers for armored vehicles included Thailand, Haiti, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Australia—those neighboring countries. Then came the turn of South American countries. Peru and Chile joined the ranks of South Korea's customers.
But the real breakthrough came when South Korea entered the market with its first aircraft, the T-50 "Golden Eagle." The "Golden Eagle" truly proved to be a golden eagle, and a significant number of countries purchased the aircraft, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Iraq, Poland, and Thailand. The combat-training aircraft proved popular, and several other countries are considering purchasing it.
The 114 aircraft sold for export could not help but inspire the Koreans to further their efforts to promote their aircraft on the international market. As the saying goes, appetite comes with eating, so the KF-21 could also have an interesting career ahead.
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