KF-X fighter prototype to be rolled out in first half of 2021, DAPA confirms

[Indos]

KF-X fighter prototype to be rolled out in first half of 2021, DAPA confirms
Gabriel Dominguez, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
26 September 2019

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is expected to complete construction of the first KF-X fighter aircraft prototype by the first half of 2021 and conduct the first test flight of the platform a year later, South Korea's Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) confirmed in a 26 September statement.

An artist impression of the KF-X fighter aircraft. DAPA announced on 26 September that the critical design phase of the aircraft has been completed. (DAPA)

DAPA said that the critical design phase of the aircraft has now been completed, allowing the KF-X/IF-X project, which stands for Korean Fighter eXperimental/Indonesian Fighter eXperimental, to move on to the next phase: prototype construction.

Development of the single-seat, twin-engined, multirole aircraft began in January 2016, with the preliminary design of the KF-X being finalised in June 2018.

https://www.janes.com/article/91535...olled-out-in-first-half-of-2021-dapa-confirms

 

[Indos]

Critical Design Review Meeting confirm that Detail Design has been completed

❍ The head of the Korean Fighter Project Division, Senior Defense Officer, Kwang Sun-sun, said, “Now, Korean fighter aircraft development has successfully passed the detailed design review stage and faces new challenges in the construction and testing of prototypes.” We will make every effort to make Korean fighters with the performances that the military satisfies through cooperation with related organizations. ”

News in Korean

http://bemil.chosun.com/nbrd/bbs/view.html?b_bbs_id=10040&pn=1&num=93826#none

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

let's see which one is first, Korean , Japanese or the Turkish one.
it looks alot like the JSF 35 to be honest.

 

[Haris Ali2140]

let's see which one is first, Korean , Japanese or the Turkish one.
it looks alot like the JSF 35 to be honest.

Important question should be the engines,avionics etc.
@Indos

 

[MystryMan]

let's see which one is first, Korean , Japanese or the Turkish one.
it looks alot like the JSF 35 to be honest.

Is it a stealth design?

 

[Indos]

let's see which one is first, Korean , Japanese or the Turkish one.
it looks alot like the JSF 35 to be honest.

This is taken from latest KAI promotional videos. The design on the promotional videos is the closest one with the real design.

The video is taken from this KAI promotional video released in September this year

Important question should be the engines,avionics etc.
@Indos

The engine is similar with Superhornet and it will be licensed to Hanwa who will mass produce it. Avionics will be developed by Hanwa system with the help from Israeli and European particularly for the AESA radar.

Engine

2 × Hanwha Techwin F414-KI[84] afterburning turbofan

• Dry thrust: 13,000lbf (57.8 kN) each
• Thrust with afterburner: 22,000 lbf (97.9 kN) each

 

[Philip the Arab]

let's see which one is first, Korean , Japanese or the Turkish one.
it looks alot like the JSF 35 to be honest.

F-35 already has 400+ built.

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

F-35 already has 400+ built.

No no jsf i mentioned it jist for asthtics. I already know all about aircraft info almost all of em

 

[Indos]

Is it a stealth design?

Yup, but not fully STEALTH because weapons are still outside of frame but according to plan there will be block 2 which have internal weapon bay.

 

[Indos]

Is it a stealth design?

Full Stealth mode program will be started in 2021. I dont know from where the journalist get the information but it is written in respected publication in Jane defense.

"DAPA will launch the KF-X Block 2 programme in 2021, which includes the development of internal weapon bays for the platform. Under F-X Phase 3 South Korea has also elected to acquire 40 Lockheed Martin F-35A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant stealth fighters."

https://www.janes.com/article/92958/mbda-to-integrate-meteor-bvraam-on-rokaf-kf-x