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

Interesting that the export version would be larger like a Hornet to a Super Hornet with an additional fuel tank and with more internal stowage for additional equipment, beyond the 4 Meteor/8 short range missile bay added to the EX version from the base version. Possibly also reflecting South Korea having a shorter range requirement than other potential users
 
WatcherZero said:
Interesting that the export version would be larger like a Hornet to a Super Hornet with an additional fuel tank and with more internal stowage for additional equipment, beyond the 4 Meteor/8 short range missile bay added to the EX version from the base version. Possibly also reflecting South Korea having a shorter range requirement than other potential users
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Really? IMO this is just impossible ... South Korea surely won't develop a new larger variant just for export!
 
WatcherZero said:
Those two articles posted.
I also wonder if its a back door method for South Korea to develop a carrier variant without committing to a carrier program upfront.
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no where does it say the SA version is larger. The article on the previous page, and the Korean language one only mentions that SA will be a customized version.
 
With an additional Aux fuel tank and larger internal volume for additional equipment (probably integrated targeting pod as the domestic versions rely on a underwing E/O targeting pod). Though it says the details of the export version havent been frozen yet.
There was also the previously announced carrier version KF-21N with 20% larger wing area and strengthened undercarriage before they retooled the lineup.
 
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www.aerotime.aero

Authorities probe channel allegedly selling fighter jet tech - AeroTime

South Korean authorities are probing a Telegram channel allegedly selling “technology documents” of the KF-21 fighter and KUH-1 Surion helicopter
www.aerotime.aero www.aerotime.aero

Korean authorities are probing a Telegram channel that claims it has KUH-1 and KF-21 factory documents from KAI for sale, the telegram channel posted photos of KUH-1 parts.
 
That does not sound too good WatcherZero, especially when Boramae was progressing so well and now this.
 
snne said:
Something tells me they're never going to make this aircraft LO.
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An EA aircfraft is by definition never LO

helmutkohl said:
something is off about that image.
looks like there are two pilots crammed into the single seater
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Yeah, placeholder image

Manuducati said:
Economy class spacing, totally normal.
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FighterJock said:
I certainly would not like to be the back seater in the Boramea EW that is for sure. It would be a tight squeeze helmutkohl. No doubt that is only an early design that will be changed given time.
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I don't know why you guys seriously think that is an actual engineering design model when there have been literally multiple images uploaded just in this thread of double seater variant prototypes.
 
TomcatViP said:
Order for 20 ¨KF-21 at roughly $70M per plane, probably not including the $10M per engine:

www.flightglobal.com

KAI announces production contract for 20 KF-21s

Korea Aerospace Industries has secured the first mass production contract for the KF-21 fighter, covering 20 aircraft.
www.flightglobal.com www.flightglobal.com
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The contract value includes development contract fee to KAI and excludes engine and radar costs.

The actual procurement cost per aircraft is $79 million.
 
FighterJock said:
How does that compare to other Fifth generation fighters on per plane cost?
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It's about $10 million over an F-35A at flyaway costs. Given the opacity of Chinese pricing and the mostly vaporware status of the Su-57, that's probably all you're going to get.

$10 million more than the F-35A for initial production is a pretty solid price point.
 
CV12Hornet said:
It's about $10 million over an F-35A at flyaway costs. Given the opacity of Chinese pricing and the mostly vaporware status of the Su-57, that's probably all you're going to get.

$10 million more than the F-35A for initial production is a pretty solid price point.
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That's wrong. Average flyaway cost for F-35A is $82.5 million for Lot 15-17. That $79 million figure for KF-21 is somewhere in the middle between weapon systems cost and procurement cost. It is definitely cheaper than the F-35 already.
 
CIC-TAO said:
KF-21 EA version

View attachment 732140
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Maro.Kyo said:
...

Yeah, placeholder image



I don't know why you guys seriously think that is an actual engineering design model when there have been literally multiple images uploaded just in this thread of double seater variant prototypes.
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70/90s kid rising up to high positions.

tumblr_97ddf3219f406a355dd55bda3f7c2de6_74fa47ec_640.jpg

Being a little spoiled brat, realising childhood dreams. No harm done and you can always claim AI will be the finest backseater ever.
 
That is excellent news the first batch of Boramae fighters for South Korea. I wonder who the lucky squadron will be that will host the first KF-21s?
 
This program is moving fast which is very good and they do need the capability based upon the current climate.
 
FighterJock said:
That is excellent news the first batch of Boramae fighters for South Korea. I wonder who the lucky squadron will be that will host the first KF-21s?
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I would presume that it would squadrons which formerly operated the Phantoms, as it seems that it will be more or less a replacement for that aircraft for now.
 
I thought it was going to be the Phantom squadrons that would get the Boramae as they are in need of being replaced, the last thing that I saw was a South Korean air force Phantom launching a Popeye missile in a photo that was in Air Forces Monthly.
 
Jason Dykstra (Wyvern) said:
I would presume that it would squadrons which formerly operated the Phantoms, as it seems that it will be more or less a replacement for that aircraft for now.
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No, all Phantoms are getting replaced by Lightning IIs (and have been replace by F-15K). KF-21 will first replace the F-5(KF-5)E/F and later the F-16PBU.

Stand-off deep strike pre-ATOs currently assigned to F-4s and its Popeyes will be transferred to F-15Ks operating Taurus and the new KF-21 operating Chunryong.

First unit to receive KF-21 will be the 18th Fighter Wing (K-18) that has two squadrons. They will receive all 40 Block 1 aircraft and transfer the remaining F-5 variants to the 10th Fighter Wing.

Second to Receive KF-21 would be the 10th Fighter Wing (K-13) which has 3 squadrons. One of them operates F-4 and will be disbanded this year following the retirement of Phantom. Remaining 2 will receive the first 40 Block 2 aircraft.

Third to receive the final 40 Block 2 aircraft will be the 19th Fighter Wing (K-75). They operate 3 squadrons, one of them being KF-16U (Block 72) and the other 2 operating PBU (Block 32). I don't know if they will transfer the block 72 aircraft to the other KF-16 operating units.

Currently RF-16 based on the Block 52 aircraft has replaced the RF-4 but following the Viper upgrade, the new mission computer is allegedly causing compatibility issues with the Israeli and Korean ELINT/RECCE pods. So from what I've heard, part of the the F-16PBUs being replaced by KF-21 will be used as the new RF-16 instead of being put on reserve/completely retired
 
Maro.Kyo said:
That's wrong. Average flyaway cost for F-35A is $82.5 million for Lot 15-17. That $79 million figure for KF-21 is somewhere in the middle between weapon systems cost and procurement cost. It is definitely cheaper than the F-35 already.
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The F-35A Fly Away Unit Cost for FY 2025 is precisely 97.982 million, the Weapon System Unit Cost is 116.099 million.

Page 111 of the Air Force Justification Book Volume 1 of 2 / Aircraft Procurement

 
A farmer went to buy a pickup truck that he saw advertised for a certain price. After telling the salesman which truck he wanted, they sat down to do the paperwork. The salesman handed the farmer the bill, and the farmer declared, “This isn’t the price I saw!”

The salesman went on to tell the farmer how he was getting extras such as power brakes, power windows, special tires etc. and that was what took the price up. The farmer needed the truck badly, He paid the price and went home.

A few months later, the salesman called up the farmer and said, “My son is in 4-H and he needs a cow for a project. Do you have any for sale?”

The farmer said, “Yes, I have a few cows, and I would sell for $500.00 apiece. Come look at them and take your pick.”

The salesman said he and his son would be right out. After spending a few hours in the field checking out all the farmer’s cows, the two decided on one and the salesman proceeded to write out a check for $500.00.

The farmer said “Now, wait a minute, that’s not the final price of the cow. You’re getting extras with it and you have to pay for that too.”
“What extras?” asked the salesman.

Below is the list the farmer gave the salesman for the final price of the cow …

Basic Cow – $500.00
Two tone exterior – $45.00
Extra stomach – $75.00
Product storing equipment – $60.00
Straw compartment – $120.00
4 Spigots @ – $10 ea – $40.00
Leather upholstery – $125.00
Dual horns – $45.00
Automatic fly swatter – $38.00
Fertilizer attachment – $185.00

Grand Total – $1,233.00
 
Sintra said:
The F-35A Fly Away Unit Cost for FY 2025 is precisely 97.982 million, the Weapon System Unit Cost is 116.099 million.

Page 111 of the Air Force Justification Book Volume 1 of 2 / Aircraft Procurement

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I forgot if I read this at Defense New or Breaking Defense, but the 82.5 million figure was given by a JPO official. It seems like the cost went up, or the numbers given by the JPO personnel was wrong.

Eitherway, that makes the block 1 batch 1 KF-21 KF-21 even more cheaper than the F-35.
 

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it is unclear in the article above if the stated thrust of 66,7kN is with our w/o reheat.
 
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The spherical IRST turret still irks me somehow....

Now that I realize it, a Block 1 KF-21 could directly compete with Su-75, and with the advantage of *actually* existing it could gobble up any chance of a sale. Still needs to get rid of those pesky Western-sourced components though... And an indigenous engine would be a good place to start.

Ghost of Kaveri, please enjoy your stay in the underworld and *dont come back.
 
asVAL said:
Now that I realize it, a Block 1 KF-21 could directly compete with Su-75, and with the advantage of *actually* existing it could gobble up any chance of a sale. Still needs to get rid of those pesky Western-sourced components though... And an indigenous engine would be a good place to start.
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Precisely because one is finishing its trials and the other hasn't even flown - it's outright wrong to compare.
If anything, the current competition here is Mig-35 with Zhuk-MA (in unknown status), which is a far more comparable product from a similar timeframe. Yes, based on (updated) ancient airframe - but KF-21 in its current form isn't that advanced to make it a lost case.

But because KF-21 is indeed Korean&full of US components, and any Russian fighter will be shot down in any weaker nation's competition by US pressure - they don't compete against each other - like, at all.
 
Ainen said:
Precisely because one is finishing its trials and the other hasn't even flown - it's outright wrong to compare.
If anything, the current competition here is Mig-35 with Zhuk-MA (in unknown status), which is a far more comparable product from a similar timeframe. Yes, based on (updated) ancient airframe - but KF-21 in its current form isn't that advanced to make it a lost case.

But because KF-21 is indeed Korean&full of US components, and any Russian fighter will be shot down in any weaker nation's competition by US pressure - they don't compete against each other - like, at all.
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You make lots of good points. I'd agree that competing against the US MIC boogeyman is really hard: F-35 competitors for instance. Indeed there are more variables to determine the winner of a "KF-21 vs Su-75" scenario than the performance specs. I could see alot of political pressures being pushed around under the table.

Still, I believe in the exportability of a fully-Koreanized KF-21. Whoever buys them get to deal with far less bureacratic matters. See Poland and their gaining cooperation with SK. It could directly compete with F-35s and Su-75s for unaligned 3rd world customers looking for replacement for aging MiG-21/F-5 fleets ie Vietnam or Argentina. And I very much doubt the feasibility of any of these countries buying US jets anyway.
 
The current jet engine development project aims to replace the F414 engine, so the target dry thrust is 'at least' 66.7kN - 15,000lbf

But if you look through the first-hand sources which is limitedly accessible through different kinds of local conference, you could notice that the actual research process is ongoing with the target dry thrust of 80kN - 18,000lbf, and also sparing enough room to adapt cutting-edge features such as built-in generators, making it somewhat similar to the GE-proposed F414 Enhanced with future extensibility

Quite an ambitious plan it is
 

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