South Korean KAI KF-X fighter

Semi-Lobster

Junior Member
Two days ago South Korea unveiled its finalized design for its indigenous KAI KF-X stealth fighter at this years Seoul Air Show that it is jointly developing with Indonesia

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The Aircraft

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The Cockpit

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Eurofighter would like to lend its expertise to the project
 

Semi-Lobster

Junior Member
south korea is developing there AESA for fighter aircraft. after the Thales AESA deal been aborted .

It will probably end up using an American AESA radar like SABR or RACR, the decision will probably be decided after South Korea decides which of the two radars wit will upgrade its F-16C/Ds with soon since they would likely want the same radar to operate on both of their two main fighter aircraft.
 

Lacrimosa

New Member
Silent Falcon? Underwhelmed, but not surprised. That had always been the design goal.

Also, from finalised concept to mass production in 9 years, with a full suite of weapons and sensored to be developed? Good luck!
 

plawolf

Lieutenant General
9 years and $5bn to develop? That is either ridiculously optimistic to the point of fraud or the thing is going to end up very mediocar at best. That is either a desperate attempt to attract investors or very bad project management. It does not bode well for the project either way.

I predict massive cost overruns and delays.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
The Questions Come down first too the amount of subsystem development. Each sub system of the fighter brought together makes the aircraft so if they already have established a level of maturity they can pull off a fast development but 5 years is Lightning fast. The only way I think that is reasonable is if a lot of the craft is ready too go now meaning no new engines, no new computer, no new stealth coatings everything must be at a level of production as it stands today.
 

Equation

Lieutenant General
9 years and $5bn to develop? That is either ridiculously optimistic to the point of fraud or the thing is going to end up very mediocar at best. That is either a desperate attempt to attract investors or very bad project management. It does not bode well for the project either way.

I predict massive cost overruns and delays.

Perhaps, but it's too early to say. I'll give it some more time and chance before I give my final judgement on it.
 

paintgun

Senior Member
plawolf, these days you are going abit extreme in your assertions, just saying ;)

one who follows South Korea news or have read some news about KF-X would probably have the same comment with Terran_Empire

it is ambitious, but it is also looking good and optimistic, we shall see
 

Martian

Senior Member
Korean stealth fighter is extremely unlikely

I am skeptical of a Korean stealth fighter.

The Koreans have yet to indigenously produce a fourth-generation fighter (e.g. F-16, J-10, or Su-30). It is highly unlikely the Koreans can skip the fourth generation and manufacture a fifth-generation stealth fighter.

Even the Japanese can't do it and they possess the transfer of licensed technology to produce a fourth-generation F-2 fighter (e.g. a large F-16).

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20-year delay between fourth and fifth generation fighters

20 years of aviation mastery are required after the manufacture of a fourth-generation fighter to produce a fifth-generation stealth fighter.

For example, the U.S. F-16 had "first flight" in 1974. The F-22 had its "first flight" in 1997. A period of 23 years was necessary before the United States developed the expertise to build a stealth fighter.

For China, the J-10 had its "first flight" in 1998. The J-20 had its "first flight" in 2011. China needed 13 years to transition from a fourth-generation to a fifth-generation fighter.

Korea has not yet produced a fourth-generation fighter. Furthermore, Korea is a tiny country with a small economy and narrow technological base. With inadequate funding and lack of a broad technological base (e.g. cannot launch satellites into orbit, cannot build nuclear submarines, cannot build indigenous Aegis system, etc.), there is no chance Korea will build an indigenous stealth fighter in the next thirty years.

References:

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Semi-Lobster

Junior Member
Korean stealth fighter is extremely unlikely

I am skeptical of a Korean stealth fighter.

The Koreans have yet to indigenously produce a fourth-generation fighter (e.g. F-16, J-10, or Su-30). It is highly unlikely the Koreans can skip the fourth generation and manufacture a fifth-generation stealth fighter.

Even the Japanese can't do it and they possess the transfer of licensed technology to produce a fourth-generation F-2 fighter (e.g. a large F-16).

----------

20-year delay between fourth and fifth generation fighters

20 years of aviation mastery are required after the manufacture of a fourth-generation fighter to produce a fifth-generation stealth fighter.

For example, the U.S. F-16 had "first flight" in 1974. The F-22 had its "first flight" in 1997. A period of 23 years was necessary before the United States developed the expertise to build a stealth fighter.

For China, the J-10 had its "first flight" in 1998. The J-20 had its "first flight" in 2011. China needed 13 years to transition from a fourth-generation to a fifth-generation fighter.

Korea has not yet produced a fourth-generation fighter. Furthermore, Korea is a tiny country with a small economy and narrow technological base. With inadequate funding and lack of a broad technological base (e.g. cannot launch satellites into orbit, cannot build nuclear submarines, cannot build indigenous Aegis system, etc.), there is no chance Korea will build an indigenous stealth fighter in the next thirty years.

References:

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South Korea is currently working on the KAI FA-50 which is a fighter variant of their T-50 advanced trainer and would be considered a 4th generation fighter and the T-50 within its own right, is a very advanced aircraft that has been in development since 1992. As for what it takes to build an aircraft and expertise, KAI licensed built the ROKAF F-15K Slam Eagles, notably including most of its electronics and its engines.

As for the KF-X itself, KAI is taking an 'off the self' approach. An American AESA radar, either an European or American pair of engines, etc. What I'm personally skeptical of though is the promise of completely indigenous air to air and air to ground weapons systems, which, KAI is completely starting from scratch from, but jsut doesn't make sense in terms of logistics and commonality with Korea's existing aircraft.
 
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