South Korea Starts Mass Production of Indigenous Stealth Fighter KF-21 Boramae

The Ministry of National Defense of South Korea recently announced an increase in its defense budget for the year 2024, including the initiation of serial production of the new indigenous stealth fighter KAI KF-21 Boramae. This fighter jet is a pivotal component of South Korea's defense strategy.

It's noteworthy that the Korean Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) recommended reducing the initial production quantity from 40 to 20 units due to technical concerns. To address these issues and ensure the continuity of the KF-21 project, the budget incorporates approximately $201 million allocated to its mass production. The Ministry of National Defense aims to commence mass production next year to avert any military capability gap resulting from the obsolescence of older fighter jets in the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF).

The development of the KF-21 has been a focal point for South Korea, with over 140 test flights conducted to date, confirming the jet's basic operational stability and the smooth functioning of its key avionics systems. The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) is gearing up for mass production, including provisional combat suitability assessments and feasibility studies.

The integration of the Meteor BVRAAM into the KF-21 signifies a significant milestone as the KF-21 becomes the first non-Western platform to incorporate this advanced European air-to-air weaponry. A live test of the Meteor BVRAAM from a KF-21 is scheduled for early 2024, marking a crucial step in the KF-21 project's development and the integration of this strategic weapon. MBDA, the company behind the Meteor missile, has expressed confidence in the growth prospects of the KF-21 program as it matures.

Manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the KF-21 is an advanced fighter developed through collaborative efforts between South Korea and Indonesia. It's designed to function as both an air superiority fighter and a multi-role combat aircraft. The KF-21 program aims to replace South Korea's aging F-4D/E Phantom II and F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft with a modern and capable fighter jet.

USA hands over first RQ-4 Global Hawk to ROKAF South Korea

U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris to South Korea said in a tweet Sunday that the Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned aircraft was delivered to South Korea this week, adding that it's a "great day" for the two countries' alliance.
Harris unveiled a picture of a Global Hawk unit parked in a hangar in an unidentified location, with the national flags of the allies hanging on a wall behind. On the body of the aircraft was text reading "the Air Force of the Republic of Korea," in Korean.
yna

South Korea plans to buy 20 additional F-35

South Korea plans to buy an additional 20 F-35A stealth fighter aircraft from the United States,less than two months after U.S. President Donald Trump announced Seoul would be purchasing billions of dollars in new military equipment.
In 2014 South Korea formally announced a plan to buy 40 F-35As.
reuters

RoKAF to setup RQ-4 unit in December

The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) will set up an airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) unit in December for its RQ-4 assets.
Officials told lawmakers during an annual audit session that the new unit will stand up on Dec. 1.
The first two of four RQ-4s will arrive next year with delivery completed by 2019.
alert5

South Korea to order additional TA-50 trainer/light attack aircraft

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has announced programmes to procure additional TA-50 trainer/light attack aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and expand the production of a locally developed military communications system.
In a press release published on 26 September the MND said the procurement of the TA-50 – a derivative of KAI’s T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer – was necessary to meet expanding air-combat training requirements. The MND said it plans to acquire the aircraft from 2019 but did not disclose the number of platforms it intends to procure.
It added that the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) trainer aircraft requirements were expected to increase significantly in the future due to the requirement to replace ageing Northrop F-5F trainers and the induction of frontline combat platforms including the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft and the proposed Korean Fighter Experimental (KFX) aircraft.
The RoKAF is scheduled to take delivery of the first of 40 on-order F-35 fighters from 2018, while the KFX, which is under development, is expected to enter service from around 2026.
janes

South Korea begins receiving Taurus cruise missiles

South Korea has received its first lot of Taurus KEPD 350K cruise missiles during a ceremony at the headquarters of Taurus Systems in Schrobenhausen, Germany, it was announced on 14 October.
An undisclosed number of missiles were formally handed over to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) during the event, which took place on the same day as the announcement. The RoKAF signed a contract for the Taurus KEPD 350K in November 2013, with reports putting the number at either 170 or 180 missiles.
The Taurus KEPD 350K is being integrated onto the RoKAF's Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle fleet. According to MBDA Deutschland (the lead company in the Taurus Systems consortium, which also includes Saab Dynamics), this work is now in its final stages.
The missile is an enhanced version of the Taurus KEPD 350 fielded by Germany and Spain on its Panavia Tornado, and Boeing EF-18 Hornet and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft respectively. Sweden is looking at integrating it onto its Saab JAS 39 Gripens also.
janes

South Korea to Sign Contract on KF-X Next Week

South Korea's state arms procurement agency said Thursday it will sign a formal contract next week,around Dec. 28 on its fighter jet development project, known as KF-X.
The Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration plans to ink the deal with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.
South Korea hopes to produce its own fighter jet to replace the aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s by mid-2020.
Last month, KAI secured Indonesia's assurance that it will pay for 20 percent of the total cost expected to reach $15 billion.
Under the contract between the DAPA and KAI, six test planes will be manufactured by 2025.
The KF-X project received a boost from the U.S. pledge to transfer some of its jet technologies. But South Korea faces a daunting task of finding an alternative as the U.S. made it clear that four core technologies will be excluded.
Those are the active electronically scanned radar, infrared search-and-rescue system, electro-optical targeting pod and radio frequency jammer.
defense-studies

US approves F-35 offset technology transfer to South Korea

The US government has approved the export of technologies to South Korea to support its development of the Korean Fighter Experimental (KFX) 4.5-generation fighter aircraft.
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on 9 December that approvals for 21 technology suites have been granted by the United States following negotiations that continued through November.
The technologies form a central part of the defence offset programme attached to Lockheed Martin's sale of F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft to the Republic of Korea Air Force. Seoul agreed to purchase 40 F-35s.
janes

South Korea Will Boy Four A330MRTT, Rejecting Boeing Propposal

South Korea said on Tuesday it chose the Airbus A330 as in-flight refuelling tankers for its Air Foce.
Airbus' A330 MRTT beat Boeing Co's KC-46A and Israel Aerospace Industries' MMTT for the tender, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a statement.
reuters

South Korea opens bidding for aerial tanker project

South Korea on Tuesday announced the start of the official bidding for a refueling aerial tanker , with three foreign major defense firms among the candidates: Airbus Defense and Space, Boeing Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) of Israel.
After wrapping up the evaluation by next month, the agency is scheduled to choose the winner and make a contact in June.
Two tankers are then to be put into service in 2018 and the remaining two in the following year. The delayed process of selecting a successful bidder for about a year has forced the military to postpone its original target of 2017.
The A300-based Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) tanker by Airbus is known for meeting both air-to-air refueling and air transport demands required by the South Korean Air Force. Some 10 countries have decided to adopt 60 platforms, which have been fully developed and already been in service.
Boeing's KC-46 tanker that features high combat readiness is expected to provide South Korea with interoperability with the U.S. Air Force, according to its officials, adding that the size is suitable for the refueling mission, which reduces infrastructure and operations costs in the long run.
As a renovated version of the B767-300ER plane, the IAI's MRTT is feted for its cost effectiveness, with the company vowing to transfer relevant high technology to South Korea.
yonhapnews

KAI in Partnership with Airbus will Develop South Korea Future Fighter KF-X

KAI was picked as the preferred bidder for the South Korea's indigenous fighter jet development program Monday.
Codenamed KF-X, the project calls for South Korea to develop fighter jets of the F-16 class to replace its aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s. Some 120 jets are to be put into service starting around 2025.
KAI, in partnership with Airbus Defense and Space, vied against Seoul's top air carrier, Korean Air Lines Co., which teamed up with Lockheed Martin of the United States.
Industrial watchers say KAI has a technical edge over Korean Air based upon its experience developing the T-50 Golden Eagle.
yonhapnews

Lockheed close to sign deal with Singapore for F-16 fleet modernisation

Lockheed Martin is reportedly close to signing a contract with Singapore for upgrade of its F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft fleet.
The F-16V upgrade package features an active electronically scanned array radar, upgraded mission computer, as well as enhancements to the mission computer, vehicle systems, aircraft structure, cockpit, and electronic warfare system.
Lockheed is already competing to modernise South Korea's F-16s, after the country cancelled an upgrade agreement with BAE Systems in late 2014.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force operates 60 F-16C/D block 52 aircraft, which were upgraded with Israeli-built electronic warfare systems.
According to the publication, the presence of Israeli systems raised a doubt whether the company would be able to upgrade the RSAF F-16s as that would require modifications to the systems.
Apart from Singapore and South Korea, the company is also believed to be working to modernise the F-16 fleets of Thailand and Indonesia.
airforce-technology

South Korean tanker acquisition delayed by 12 months

The introduction of an in-flight refuelling capability for South Korea has reportedly been postponed by some 12 months, following a delay in downselecting one of the three bids for the deal.
A decision on the bids was expected to be made at the end of 2014, ahead of entry to service in 2017, but a decision will now be made in June 2015 and Seoul will now begin fielding the tanker in 2018.
Bidding for four-aircraft deal are Boeing with its 767-based KC-46; Airbus Defence & Space with the Airbus A330 MRTT; and Israel Aerospace Industries with a Boeing 767-300ER-derived tanker transport using second-hand aircraft.
The attributed reason for the delay was offset gaps, but negotiations are expected to begin again in the coming weeks.
However, all four tankers are still expected to be deployed by 2019 – two in 2018 and two in 2019.
The selected type would support and add endurance to ROKAF F-15K, F-16C, TA-50 and future 60 F-35.
flightglobal

Australia, Philippines, South Korea interested in gunship conversions

ATK has received significant interest in its gunship and light attack aircraft conversions from a number of Asia-Pacific countries.
Interest in ATK's tactical transport gunship conversions has been particularly strong from several regional countries, with capability discussions ongoing.
Australia is very interested in the MC-27J [special mission aircraft, which ATK developed with airframer Alenia Aermacchi]; Indonesia has shown interest in the [Airbus Defence and Space] CN-235 and C-295 gunship conversions; the Philippines recently bought [surplus Lockheed Martin] C-130Ts, which ATK have briefed about converting [into roll-on/roll-off gunships]; and ATK have briefed South Korea on gunship applications for the CN-235 too..
ATK's light attack and gunship conversion work has become especially popular over recent years, with Iraq receiving Hellfire-armed AC-208 Combat Caravans, Jordan receiving AC-235 gunships (with a contract for AC-295s expected imminently), and Italy signing for the MC-27J special mission aircraft.
janes

Korean Air, Airbus join hands for South Korean fighter project

South Korea's top air carrier Korean Air, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to jointly bid for Seoul's indigenous fighter development project.
Codenamed KF-X, the project calls for South Korea to develop fighter jets of the F-16 class to replace its aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s. Some 120 jets are to be put into service starting around 2025.
The partners will jointly take part in a second South Korean government bid for the project set to be closed on Tuesday.
The first government bid for the project fell through earlier this month, as Korean Air did not take part in it.
Airbus confirmed the partnership agreement with Korean Air, saying that the South Korean company first approached it for the project.
South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, the Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., was the sole participant in last week's bid in partnership with Lockheed Martin of the United States. Under South Korean laws, at least two bidders are needed to make a public auction valid.
KAI has a technical edge over Korean Air based upon its experience developing the T-50 Golden Eagle supersonic trainer and the country's utility helicopter, Surion, while the latter has larger investment capacity, according to industrial watchers.
Airbus would be able to complement Korean Air in terms of technical issues. The South Korean military decided to use the twin-engine platform over the single-engine one, and Airbus is familiar with the platform after building the multi-role fighter, Eurofighter.
koreaherald

Bid for South Korea KF-X fighter project fails

Korean Air, failed to place a bid for the ROK Air Force's homegrown fighter program by the deadline, making the bidding invalid, the state arms procurement agency said, Monday.
KAI was found to be the sole applier after closing the bid Monday.
At least two bidders are needed for the auction to be valid, according to Korean law. A lack of bidders will lead to a second auction later this month.
Korean Air said last Thursday that it planned to submit a bid in collaboration with Europe's Airbus Defence and Space, but failed to do so.
KAI,has joined Lockheed Martin for the project.
The failure of Korean Air to make a bid by the deadline will likely cause a setback in the project because a time delay is inevitable.
DAPA initially planned to review proposals from the two teams and pick a preferred bidder by next month after closing the bid on Monday. The agency had planned to decide a winner by the first half of the year.
Under the law, when a first bid fails, DAPA moves on to a second one.
The project, codenamed KF-X, will develop indigenous F-16 class fighter jets, which are scheduled for service from 2025, to replace the aging F-4 and F-5 jets.
Korean Air and Airbus reached a verbal agreement early last week, and were scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding to take part in the project.
After its plan to participate in the program was made known to the public, experts and industry watchers predicted fierce competition between KAI and Korean Air.
koreatimes

Northrop Grumman to Start Production on Republic of Korea Global Hawks

Northrop Grumman will begin production of four RQ-4 Global Hawk for the Republic of Korea's Air Force.
The contract announcement follows procurement decisions made by the Japanese and Australian governments to purchase the Global Hawk and the MQ-4C Triton.
globenewswire

South Korea signs Global Hawk deal for 2017-2019 delivery

South Korea has signed a USD657.4 million Foreign Military Sales contract for four Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Block 30 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), two spare engines, and two ground control systems, the US Department of Defense announced on 16 December.
Deliveries are to begin by 2017 and will be complete by 2019. South Korea first expressed interest in the Global Hawk in 2005 and made a formal request for aircraft in 2009.
The Block 30 Global Hawk's synthetic aperture radar will be helpful in penetrating the mist that often obscures parts of the Korean peninsula, while the system's endurance of some 35 hours and ability to operate at altitudes of 50,000 to 65,000 ft (15,240 to 19,810 m) will provide Seoul with a persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.
South Korea has always been heavily dependent on US ISR assets for its security. The Global Hawk purchase is the first step in giving it an independent ISR capability.
janes

South Korea Moving Closer To Lockheed F-16 Deal

South Korean officials are expected to approve a plan this week paving the way for Lockheed Martin to take over its F-16 upgrade program.
A Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) spokesman said his agency is scheduling a top decision-making council Nov. 19 to approve a plan to change the KF-16 partner company, following cancellation of a $1.7 billion BAE Systems contract to give 134 KF-16 fighters new avionics and radar systems.
A pair of KF-16 C/D Block 52 jets has already been sent to a BAE factory in Fort Worth, Texas, to be equipped with an up-to-date mission computer, cockpit-display and other avionics systems. Phase 2 of the upgrades would have involved the integration of the Raytheon active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, ALR-69A all-digital radar warning receiver and weapon systems integration.
A new Lockheed contract would likely fill similar needs, but may swap out Raytheon’s AESA for Northrop Grumman’s model. Lockheed selected Northrop to provide radars on its contract to upgrade Taiwan’s F-16 fleet.
defensenews

Republic of Korea Terminate KF-16 Upgrade Contract with BAE

On November 5, 2014, at the request of the Government of the Republic of Korea, the U.S. Government notified BAE Systems, that it would terminate for convenience a contract with BAE for initial development and long lead production in support of the Republic of Korea KF-16 fighter aircraft upgrade. This contract was the first of a two-phase Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procurement for the upgrade of 134 KF-16s. The U.S. Government will work with BAE to close out the contract.
dsca.mil