South Korea’s self-developed next-generation fighter jet KF-21 Boramae has made good progress in the ground test phase, completing about 50% of the overall test plan and about 95% of the ground test requirements to complete its debut in the official newspaper of the South Korean Ministry of Defense, The National Daily News on June 13.
According to the paper, if the remaining ground test parameters and taxi tests are successfully completed, the first KF-21 prototype is expected to begin its maiden flight in July.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the prime contractor for the KF-21 program, is currently ground-testing six prototypes and two spares, with each platform currently being used for various critical and functional tests prior to actual flight testing. The company expects to conduct approximately 2,000 development flights using the prototype aircraft.
The KF-21 is a multi-role platform that will replace the aging F-4D/E Phantom II and F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft of the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF). The South Korean Air Force expects to procure 40 KF-21s by 2028 and 80 more by 2032.
KAI earlier said that the initial production aircraft will be optimized for air-to-air combat and have limited air-to-ground capability. It will feature three hardpoints under each wing for weapons and/or external fuel storage, while missiles can also be carried externally under the fuselage. However, the mass-produced aircraft will be fully capable of performing both mission sets. Low-rate initial production is expected to begin in 2026, with full-rate production starting in 2028.
The company revealed in an April 2021 stock exchange filing that it was planning to develop a new “smart factory” to support aircraft production. The company said it will invest about $87 million over five years to build a “smart manufacturing system” that will leverage Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics.
While the new facility will be used for several programs, one of its initial missions is expected to be the production of KF-21 components and structures. It is understood that KAI’s goal is to achieve at least 65% of the localized production of KF-21 components, involving more than 700 domestic enterprises.
by Jr Ng
