KAI KF-21 Boramae (KFX Korean Indigenous Fighter program)

[Sundog]

FYI, the probe on the front is a test boom. Notice it has pitch and yaw vanes as well. It can also determine roll based on how those relate to each other. It isn't just a pitot probe for speed. It's there to calibrate the FCS in all motions and for calibrating how the on board sensors determine speed. Once they have all of that dialed in, they won't need that boom, at least on later production models. It will probably stay with this airframe all throughout envelope expansion.

I also had to laugh at the image where the pilot has his arm outstretched. It's like he's saying, "Come on, I can barely reach the touch screen! Who did you guys build this for?!"
Either that or he's just showing off how spacious it is.

 

[robunos]

I also had to laugh at the image where the pilot has his arm outstretched. It's like he's saying, "Come on, I can barely reach the touch screen! Who did you guys build this for?!"
Either that or he's just showing off how spacious it is.

"Compare and contrast with the Qaher-313 . . ."

cheers,
Robin.

 

[helmutkohl]

As the KF-21 Boramae awaits its maiden flight, its AESA Radar Performs well during airborne testings - The Aviation Geek Club

As the KF-21 Boramae awaits its maiden flight, its AESA Radar Performs well during airborne testings

theaviationgeekclub.com

The AESA radar development is without a doubt the most high-profile development program out of the four, and by all accounts, it is said to be going smoothly. According to Republic of Korea Armed Forces’ Facebook page, prototype radar has undergone numerous airborne testings and is said to have performed well. Development of other systems are also said to be going well through indigenous R&D or through cooperation with international partners.


Because these “core technology” are considered extremely sensitive and are intellectual properties of South Korea, any exported systems will be maintained by South Korean engineers. For example, KF-21 exported to Indonesia will have to be overseen by South Korean engineers when radars and other sensitive subsystems need to be maintained.


This is not unique to the KF-21. Most, if not all, major defense manufacturers impose similar requirements to safeguard sensitive technology. Users of the F-15E and F-35 variants cannot freely maintain their aircraft without Boeing or Lockheed Martin engineers, for example.

 

[stealthflanker]

Gonna be interesting. hopefully more information can be made available so i can refine my estimates.

The latest i did was in March last year which put range at PD-90% against 3 sqm target at 132 km, medium PRF for an all aspect search.

 

[Umigami]

As the KF-21 Boramae awaits its maiden flight, its AESA Radar Performs well during airborne testings - The Aviation Geek Club

As the KF-21 Boramae awaits its maiden flight, its AESA Radar Performs well during airborne testings

theaviationgeekclub.com

The AESA radar development is without a doubt the most high-profile development program out of the four, and by all accounts, it is said to be going smoothly. According to Republic of Korea Armed Forces’ Facebook page, prototype radar has undergone numerous airborne testings and is said to have performed well. Development of other systems are also said to be going well through indigenous R&D or through cooperation with international partners.


Because these “core technology” are considered extremely sensitive and are intellectual properties of South Korea, any exported systems will be maintained by South Korean engineers. For example, KF-21 exported to Indonesia will have to be overseen by South Korean engineers when radars and other sensitive subsystems need to be maintained.


This is not unique to the KF-21. Most, if not all, major defense manufacturers impose similar requirements to safeguard sensitive technology. Users of the F-15E and F-35 variants cannot freely maintain their aircraft without Boeing or Lockheed Martin engineers, for example.

If we Indonesian get the original version like what RoKAF use and not the downgrade one, I'm okay with it.

 

[Archibald]

I also had to laugh at the image where the pilot has his arm outstretched. It's like he's saying, "Come on, I can barely reach the touch screen! Who did you guys build this for?!"
Either that or he's just showing off how spacious it is.

"Compare and contrast with the Qaher-313 . . ."

cheers,
Robin.

Mais qu'allait il faire, dans ce Qaher ? LMAO

 

[Maro.Kyo]

Gonna be interesting. hopefully more information can be made available so i can refine my estimates.

The latest i did was in March last year which put range at PD-90% against 3 sqm target at 132 km, medium PRF for an all aspect search.

I've heard that the recent renegotiations of the terms brought Indonesia increased share in components production. Although from what I know they are mostly airframe structures, do you know if there are any Indonesian avionics included in the new terms?

 

[Maro.Kyo]

As the KF-21 Boramae awaits its maiden flight, its AESA Radar Performs well during airborne testings - The Aviation Geek Club

As the KF-21 Boramae awaits its maiden flight, its AESA Radar Performs well during airborne testings

theaviationgeekclub.com

The AESA radar development is without a doubt the most high-profile development program out of the four, and by all accounts, it is said to be going smoothly. According to Republic of Korea Armed Forces’ Facebook page, prototype radar has undergone numerous airborne testings and is said to have performed well. Development of other systems are also said to be going well through indigenous R&D or through cooperation with international partners.


Because these “core technology” are considered extremely sensitive and are intellectual properties of South Korea, any exported systems will be maintained by South Korean engineers. For example, KF-21 exported to Indonesia will have to be overseen by South Korean engineers when radars and other sensitive subsystems need to be maintained.


This is not unique to the KF-21. Most, if not all, major defense manufacturers impose similar requirements to safeguard sensitive technology. Users of the F-15E and F-35 variants cannot freely maintain their aircraft without Boeing or Lockheed Martin engineers, for example.

One thing to correct in the article : It's a common misinformation that Korea demanded "4 core avionics technology" from the US as an offset of the F-X program, intended for use in KF-X. What they actually demanded was the "system integration technology" of various subsytems, including those 4 core avionics. (This is where the misinformation comes from.)

To further clarify, fighter jet AESA development had already progressed around a decade by that point (mid 2010s) and there were a few design prototypes that went through aerial testing. The Swedes were already providing technical assistance as well and talks were taking place with other parties such as the Israelis concerning possible support for advanced stages of the development.

Same story for other avionics as well. The EW suite was going to be based off of ALQ-200K's technology, also utilising the experience gained from designing and operating Sonata and RC-800. The actual EW suite is structurally quite different to ALQ-200K but still is technically based off the techniques in use with the ALQ-200K.

IRST was going to be technically based on the naval shipborne IRSTs in use with the ROKN. The hardware of the actual IRST of KF-21 is that of Leonardo, coupled with Korean software.

EO targetting pod was and is to be based off the experience and design from the other airborne EO systems in use with the ROKA.

On the other hand, Korea didn't have had the experience of integrating all those avionics into a single working unit that is a fighter jet. Their most recent experience of designing a similar system was the combat management system of the FFX-1 and 2, but designing a shipborne combat system compared to fighter jet avionics suite have just as much differences as the similarities they bear. That's why they asked for US ToT, which as we all know, have been denied.

This points to the conclusion that the Koreans are still to overcome the biggest hurdle and the biggest unknown, that is to actually demonstrate that the integrated avionics to work on actual conditions, ie while airborne against various targets in situations. For this they'll have to wait until the plane is afloat. They also better not get ahead of themselves since the AESA or other subsystems working as planned is only to be expexted. It seems they are testing the MC and the avionics suite on simulated environment but as we all know simulation can bring us only so far. Time will tell.

 

[stealthflanker]

Gonna be interesting. hopefully more information can be made available so i can refine my estimates.

The latest i did was in March last year which put range at PD-90% against 3 sqm target at 132 km, medium PRF for an all aspect search.

I've heard that the recent renegotiations of the terms brought Indonesia increased share in components production. Although from what I know they are mostly airframe structures, do you know if there are any Indonesian avionics included in the new terms?

There was a local Indonesian company named Infoglobal which projected to manufacture some Avionic components for our KFX. The contribution however would be limited to cockpit displays and maybe INS.

 

[litzj]

https://news.v.daum.net/v/20220113105227952

S.Korea announced that they will integrate their own hypersonic missile capable of Mach 5 with 500km.

Not strikingly new; hypersonic test vehicle will probably fly in this year (demonstration of scramjet)

 

[stealthflanker]

Now in 360 degrees. The model are still ideal (no inlet or exhaust) modeled atm but i guess it shows how KFX shape's RCS lobes behave and where their strength are strong.
and i forgot to mention frequency. X-band (8 GHz).

Front	Rear	Top	Bottom	Side

 

[Alifzero]

 

[VTOLicious]

View attachment 672199

There actually is very nice high resolution renderings of gun and AC on the website!
https://www.gd-ots.com/armaments/aircraft-guns-gun-systems/

 

[sferrin]

Now put a pair of 26,400lb thrust F414 EPEs in it.

 

[litzj]

https://news.v.daum.net/v/20220113105227952

S.Korea announced that they will integrate their own hypersonic missile capable of Mach 5 with 500km.

Not strikingly new; hypersonic test vehicle will probably fly in this year (demonstration of scramjet)

https://jaesan-aero.blogspot.com/2022/01/korean-hypersonic-alcm-baby-kinzhal-w.html

I had sized that Baby-Kinzhal <- nicknamed by me... sry

Modeled (with some assumed value) Baby-Kinzhal (Kh-47M2) w/ SCRamjet is analyzed.
- Solid booster rocket 600kg w/ 260 ISP
- SCRamjet fuel 50kg w/ 900 ISP

In order to achieve Mach 5 cruise speed, most of fuel is used for Boost phase.

3000lb class ALCM shows about 900km range w/ Mach 5 cruise speed.
- it is reduced to 600km when ground-launch.
- it is reduced to 330km when only rocket is used for same flight profile.
(it is similar to Kh-15 Kickback class missile)

If missile is launched at ground, range is reduced to 670km.
- but Mach number variation is severe at Cruise Altitude.
- 0.6t Booster should be used to match Air-Launch profile.
- but 500lb warhead is too small for GLCM, so unlikely to go.

 

[Frogfigther]

KF-21 Prototype #003, #004 has been open. It seems every prototype will have different paintings on their tail.

KAI announced that the prototype #001 is going to have an engine-run test in next month and taxiing test in March.
A maiden flight is currently planned for late June.

Source

여차하면 스텔스로 둔갑한다..中·러 '눈'보다 뛰어난 KF-21 [김민석 배틀그라운드]

우리 손으로 만든 전투기 KF-21 보라매가 실외에서 처음 위용을 드러냈다. 짙은 회색 몸통에 꼬리 날개에는 흰 글씨로 ‘KF-21’이 선명하게 새겨져 있었다. 지난해 12월 29일 경남 사천 한국항공우주산업(KAI)의 격납고에 있던 KF-21 시제기 1호기는 토봇에 이끌려 바깥으로 나왔다. 토봇은 토잉(Towing·견인) 로봇의 준말이다. 지난

news.v.daum.net

 

[helmutkohl]

여차하면 스텔스로 둔갑한다…中·러 '눈'보다 뛰어난 KF-21 [김민석 배틀그라운드]

우리 손으로 만든 전투기 KF-21 보라매가 실외에서 처음 위용을 드러냈다. 짙은 회색 몸통에 꼬리 날개에는 흰 글씨로 ‘KF-21’이 선명하게 새겨져 있었다. 지난해 12월 29일 경남 사천 한국항공우주산업(KAI

n.news.naver.com

interesting size comparison chart

 

[stealthflanker]

and apparently they're Twin seater.

 

[Archibald]

It just dawned on me...
General Electric J101 / F404 / F414 did it again: after the F-18 in the 1970's and the Gripen in the 1990's, the KF-21 may be the right "compromise" in size and weight between the F-22 and F-35 - in the stealth era.
-Just like the Gripen was, compared to Rafale and Typhoon.
-Or the Hornet finding a niche between the F-16 and F-15 on export markets: Canada, Spain, Australia... many others.

 

[Deino]

And as it seems, 003 & 004 are twin-seater

 

[Alifzero]

Weird. The article says 3 and 4 are single seat while 5 and 6 are double seat. Unless i use bad translator. But good eyes Deino

 

[stealthflanker]

This should be the 004. As seen the cockpit is long and there are 2 instrument panel. Indicating the double seat feature.

 

[Umigami]

And as it seems, 003 & 004 are twin-seater

View attachment 672799

View attachment 672798

No, I think 03 is single seat.

 

[Deino]

And as it seems, 003 & 004 are twin-seater

View attachment 672799

View attachment 672798

No, I think 03 is single seat.

Are you sure?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1485232217190281217

View: https://twitter.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1485232217190281217

 

[helmutkohl]

screen shots from this video

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUk6SyK3Cl0


this is 004, the twin seater


this is 003. can't tell for sure but it looks like it has a larger "hump" on the back so it may be a single?

 

[helmutkohl]

wow Deino and I postd the same exact time but with two different takes lol

 

[Umigami]

screen shots from this video

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUk6SyK3Cl0


this is 004, the twin seater
View attachment 672804

this is 003. can't tell for sure but it looks like it has a larger "hump" on the back so it may be a single?

View attachment 672805

Yup, single seater has much bigger hump. Something that double seater almost has none.



Seems like double seater has better 6 o'clock visibility than single seater.

 

[Maro.Kyo]

KF-21 Prototype #003, #004 has been open. It seems every prototype will have different paintings on their tail.

KAI announced that the prototype #001 is going to have an engine-run test in next month and taxiing test in March.
A maiden flight is currently planned for late June.

Not only the vertical tail but every single prototype will have different painting scheme, camouflage brightness/contrast so that they could figure out which one is the hardest to notice. One could already see that from the 003. The difference between other prototypes are probably much subtle and could be harder to come by since they would have monotone grey with varying brightness.

 

[Bounce]

So I remember reading a slide that said RAM will be a block update further down the line?

It's clear from these latest photos there's no access panel zig zagging inc LG doors etc.

How hard will all that be to add at a later stage? I figured it would have been more logical to include it from the start? It's weird seeing such a modern fighter with straight lines everywhere.

 

[helmutkohl]

So I remember reading a slide that said RAM will be a block update further down the line?

It's clear from these latest photos there's no access panel zig zagging inc LG doors etc.

How hard will all that be to add at a later stage? I figured it would have been more logical to include it from the start? It's weird seeing such a modern fighter with straight lines everywhere.

to be fair, the Koreans have referred this plane as a 4.5 gen plane and not a 5th gen one.
its assumed that by the 3rd? batch, they will add more VLO features and incorporate the internal weapons bay (the space is already there, its just covered up by a semi-recessed missile panel).

IRC.. the Rafale prototype didn't have some zig zags, but later versions added serrated edges along the intake, canards, etc.
I think some later versions of the MiG-29 also added them too.

 

[Maro.Kyo]

So I remember reading a slide that said RAM will be a block update further down the line?

No, a film-like ram and leading edge RAS are already to be implemented from block 1 onwards. These are separate matters from saw tooth pannels.

 

[Bounce]

So I remember reading a slide that said RAM will be a block update further down the line?

It's clear from these latest photos there's no access panel zig zagging inc LG doors etc.

How hard will all that be to add at a later stage? I figured it would have been more logical to include it from the start? It's weird seeing such a modern fighter with straight lines everywhere.

to be fair, the Koreans have referred this plane as a 4.5 gen plane and not a 5th gen one.
its assumed that by the 3rd? batch, they will add more VLO features and incorporate the internal weapons bay (the space is already there, its just covered up by a semi-recessed missile panel).

IRC.. the Rafale prototype didn't have some zig zags, but later versions added serrated edges along the intake, canards, etc.
I think some later versions of the MiG-29 also added them too.

That makes sense, I had forgotten about the bay too. I'm still amazed how fast this program has moved but I haven't followed it closely.

 

[helmutkohl]

That makes sense, I had forgotten about the bay too. I'm still amazed how fast this program has moved but I haven't followed it closely.

Same here!
Actually I think the aircraft looks a bit boring, its just another LockMart clone and is visually, just a mini-F22 (no surprise since it has Lockheed involved).
Overall Korean aircraft designs seem quite conservative (similar to other existing aircraft) and not that good looking (hello Surion!)

But its impressive because all this from a country that's not known as an aviation powerhouse (i.e Russia, China, US, UK and France), and that they went straight from a trainer aircraft to a modern mid-weight fighter aircraft! And seemingly on time! and now we already see a twin-seater!
I'm blown away, especially as I really thought they wouldn't get far.

I hate to do comparisons but this level is where the Indian aviation industry should really be at right now.

 

[stealthflanker]

But its impressive because all this from a country that's not known as an aviation powerhouse

kinda reminds me of Singapore eh... never make cars but suddenly churn out Bionix IFV.

 

[Archibald]

That makes sense, I had forgotten about the bay too. I'm still amazed how fast this program has moved but I haven't followed it closely.

Same here!
Actually I think the aircraft looks a bit boring, its just another LockMart clone and is visually, just a mini-F22 (no surprise since it has Lockheed involved).
Overall Korean aircraft designs seem quite conservative (similar to other existing aircraft) and not that good looking (hello Surion!)

But its impressive because all this from a country that's not known as an aviation powerhouse (i.e Russia, China, US, UK and France), and that they went straight from a trainer aircraft to a modern mid-weight fighter aircraft! And seemingly on time! and now we already see a twin-seater!
I'm blown away, especially as I really thought they wouldn't get far.

I hate to do comparisons but this level is where the Indian aviation industry should really be at right now.

They learned a lot and cleverly and very fast: from KF-16. I kind of like the KF-21 because it looks like a F-35 done "right": no VSTOL, two-seat variant, two engines.

 

[GTX]

But its impressive because all this from a country that's not known as an aviation powerhouse

kinda reminds me of Singapore eh... never make cars but suddenly churn out Bionix IFV.

They have been steadily working at the aerospace game for 20+yrs with products such as the KT-1 and co-production efforts/licensed production (e.g. BK-117, KF-16 etc) as well as other related activities. They have also benefitted from relationships with major OEMs such as Lockheed Martin, so I would hardly act surprised.

 

[sferrin]

 

[Archibald]

I'm definitively in love with that aircraft. One of the sexiest stealth fighter in existence.

 

[Sundog]

Yup, single seater has much bigger hump. Something that double seater almost has none.

It doesn't have a bigger hump, it's just that the second seat carries the aerodynamic shape further back into the fuselage, giving a smoother look. It's why I prefer the look of the two seat variant over the single seat variant.

 

[VTOLicious]

I don't know if this was posted before. Actually I was searching for an official 3-view drawing, unfortunately without success. But I found some basic specifications on KAI's homepage...
https://m.koreaaero.com/EN/Business/KF21.aspx