Water Car Engineer
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KF-X / IF-X stealth fighter aircraft of South Korea & Indonesia (images)
- Thread starter mil-avia
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Indos
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1. Time line based on current plan : expected around 2019-2020
2. Engineering process is set up to start in 2015 (second phase). Technology development phase has already been completed in December 2012 that results 2 viable designs (two engine with and without canard) to develop in the next phase.
3. For the engine, just wait for 2020, no engine bidding competition yet for this project. Need to fly first.
Janmejay
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You meant to say that first technology demonstrator/prototype will be ready by 2020 or whole project by 2020??
I am asking about the whole project.
Indos
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Whole project (of course it is a paper based plan, we don't know yet what will be happening in the future).
The engineering phase is a detail design work, so we hope we can get the prototype first at the lab and test it first, maybe need 1 year testing at land, ( it can be 2 or 4 prototype) during this phase, and then if all thing is fine than we can fly it. From what I have heard before, they plan to have the first prototype to fly in 2017.
After this project finished, South Korean and Indonesia will split and each of them has the right to develop it even further into what ever they want based on their future needs.
Janmejay
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Ok this seems very ambitious and unrealistic to me(no offence),anyway which engine you are plannig for testing the prototypes??
Reashot Xigwin
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It's teaching someone how to fish basically. For Indonesia which have never developed plane without any propeller before makes this enterprise even more attractive. Even if we don't get the fish like the failed "lavi project" we still going to get the knowledge of catching the fish for our personal use in the future.
For the Engine its rumored it will be using Russian engine like in their new fighter jet or be using the native one, but cause they decided with the twin engine one its probably the Russian.
Reashot Xigwin
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Seoul Eyes Secure Satcom, KF-X Tech In F-35 Deal
F-35 Lightning II (photo : Lockheed Martin)
With Seoul’s March 24 announcement of its long-held intent to purchase the F-35A, South Korea is likely securing an offset deal that will include a new military communications satellite and technical assistance in the country’s plans to develop an indigenous stealthy KF-X fighter.
Lockheed Martin, the sole producer of stealthy fighters globally, will provide more than 300 man-years worth of engineering expertise in assisting Seoul in designing its KF-X. The F-22 and F-35 builder will also offer more than 500,000 pages of technical documentation derived from the F-16, F-22 and F-35, says Michael Rein, a company spokesman.
South Korea is looking at multiple KF-X designs, but has recently found that a single-engine option may be as effective at an affordable price point as a twin engine. It is slated to become operational around 2025.
Also in the offset proposal is a secure satellite communications satellite; Lockheed is building the newest U.S. Air Force jam-proof satellite called the Advanced Extremely High Frequency spacecraft. It is built on the company’s A2100 bus and includes the latest security measures to avoid interference or jamming. The offset also includes “necessary control equipment and technical training,” Rein says. The deal could cover delivery of the new satellite, launch and turnover of the operational system.
KFX design (photo : kjclub)
Seoul announced its choice of the F-35A over the Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, a Strike Eagle modified with stealthy weapons bays and leading edges, in December. Though Boeing’s offer was the only one to comply with South Korea’s budget limitations, the government overrode a recommendation to buy the Super Hornet. To stay in a budget of 8.3 billion won ($7.2 billion), the country is only purchasing 40 F-35As, far less than its intended buy of 60 aircraft in the F-X phase 3 program.
Lockheed Martin also included development of a virtual warfare center to be used for modeling and wargaming in its offer. However, since the deal was cut to 40 aircraft, there could be changes to the plan, one industry official says.
South Korea is the 10th country that has announced its intentions to buy the F-35. Israel and Japan committed in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Seoul’s sale will make use of the Pentagon’s foreign military sales program. It is widely assumed that the country will include an option of the additional 20 fighters in its program for purchase on a later date.
South Korea plans to take delivery of its first F-35As in 2018; they will be included in the Pentagon’s low-rate, initial production buy. Seoul plans to buy as many as 10 per year.
The final agreement on the buy is expected to be signed by year’s end, says Steve O’Bryan, vice president of program integration and business development at Lockheed.
(Aviation Week)
F-35 Lightning II (photo : Lockheed Martin)
With Seoul’s March 24 announcement of its long-held intent to purchase the F-35A, South Korea is likely securing an offset deal that will include a new military communications satellite and technical assistance in the country’s plans to develop an indigenous stealthy KF-X fighter.
Lockheed Martin, the sole producer of stealthy fighters globally, will provide more than 300 man-years worth of engineering expertise in assisting Seoul in designing its KF-X. The F-22 and F-35 builder will also offer more than 500,000 pages of technical documentation derived from the F-16, F-22 and F-35, says Michael Rein, a company spokesman.
South Korea is looking at multiple KF-X designs, but has recently found that a single-engine option may be as effective at an affordable price point as a twin engine. It is slated to become operational around 2025.
Also in the offset proposal is a secure satellite communications satellite; Lockheed is building the newest U.S. Air Force jam-proof satellite called the Advanced Extremely High Frequency spacecraft. It is built on the company’s A2100 bus and includes the latest security measures to avoid interference or jamming. The offset also includes “necessary control equipment and technical training,” Rein says. The deal could cover delivery of the new satellite, launch and turnover of the operational system.
KFX design (photo : kjclub)
Seoul announced its choice of the F-35A over the Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing F-15 Silent Eagle, a Strike Eagle modified with stealthy weapons bays and leading edges, in December. Though Boeing’s offer was the only one to comply with South Korea’s budget limitations, the government overrode a recommendation to buy the Super Hornet. To stay in a budget of 8.3 billion won ($7.2 billion), the country is only purchasing 40 F-35As, far less than its intended buy of 60 aircraft in the F-X phase 3 program.
Lockheed Martin also included development of a virtual warfare center to be used for modeling and wargaming in its offer. However, since the deal was cut to 40 aircraft, there could be changes to the plan, one industry official says.
South Korea is the 10th country that has announced its intentions to buy the F-35. Israel and Japan committed in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Seoul’s sale will make use of the Pentagon’s foreign military sales program. It is widely assumed that the country will include an option of the additional 20 fighters in its program for purchase on a later date.
South Korea plans to take delivery of its first F-35As in 2018; they will be included in the Pentagon’s low-rate, initial production buy. Seoul plans to buy as many as 10 per year.
The final agreement on the buy is expected to be signed by year’s end, says Steve O’Bryan, vice president of program integration and business development at Lockheed.
(Aviation Week)
Reashot Xigwin
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S. Korea Wants Lockheed To Invest in Fighter Plan
Mar. 29, 2014 - 02:21PM |
By JUNG SUNG-KI |
South Korea has chosen to purchase the F-35 for its stealth capabilities, dropping an option to buy Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle. (US Air Force)
SEOUL — South Korea will ask Lockheed Martin to invest in the country’s KF-X fighter jet development project as part of offset deals over its selection of the F-35 joint strike fighter.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) made a final decision March 24 to buy 40 F-35As through the US Foreign Military Sales program.
A final contract on the deal will be signed by September, according to the arms agency, with the first delivery in 2018. The deal is expected to be worth around 7.4 trillion won ($6.8 billion).
Seoul redrew the terms of a $7.8 billion tender to buy 60 fighters last year after dropping an option to buy Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle in favor of purchasing a fighter with stealth capabilities. Seoul subsequently reduced the purchase to an initial 40 planes.
“The final price will be determined through negotiations between the South Korean and US governments,” DAPA spokesman Baek Yoon-hyung said. “We hope a final price will be reached by the end of this summer.”
“We are honored by and appreciate the trust and confidence the Republic of Korea has placed in the fifth-generation F-35 to meet its demanding security requirements,” said Orlando Carvalho, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive vice president. “We look forward to supporting the discussions between the Republic of Korea and US governments in support of a final agreement this year.”
Randy Howard, director of Lockheed’s F-35 business development, said he expects the F-35’s cost to take a downward path that will lead to a unit recurring flyaway cost for an F-35A of between US $80 million to $85 million.
But South Korean officials are cautious about Lockheed’s estimate. “It appears that Lockheed presupposes the best scenario for the progress of the F-35 program,” a Defense Ministry source said.
Both governments and Lockheed will start “two-track negotiations” on the price and offset package deals this week.
In the offset discussions, Seoul plans to ask Lockheed to shoulder as much as 20 percent of the KF-X development costs, according to multiple military sources.
The KF-X program is aimed at developing an F-16-class jet after 2023 in partnership with foreign governments and companies. Indonesia joined the program to cover 20 percent of the cost, estimated to be around $8.4 billion. Seoul is supposed to fund 60 percent.
“Our focus is to receive quality technology for the KF-X development,” said Jung Kwang-sun, head of DAPA’s Aircraft Business Department. “Should a partner company invest in a joint development project, it could be more responsible for the project concerned.”
Jung referred to the contract for the T-50 joint development program between South Korea and Lockheed. Under the contract, Lockheed covered 13 percent of the cost of developing the trainer jet, while the government and Korea Aerospace Industries shouldered 70 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
A Lockheed spokesperson said there has been no decision on the company’s investment in the KF-X. Lockheed has offered to provide more than 300 man-years’ worth of engineering expertise in assisting Seoul in designing KF-X.
The F-35 builder also will offer more than 500,000 pages of technical documentation derived from the F-16, F-35 and F-22, another stealth combat jet built by the US company.
But direct investment is a hard option for Lockheed to choose, said Yang Wook, a research member of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, based here.
“The KF-X is very different from the T-50,” Yang said. “Unlike the trainer, a KF-X could be a potential competitor with existing mid-sized fighter jets, including Lockheed Martin’s F-16.”
He said Lockheed could fall into a dilemma over how much it can and should support the KF-X, which has been troubled for years over budget and specifications.
At a time when South Korea is considering leasing secondhand US F-16s to help fill a potential vacuum in its air power caused by delays in fighter acquisition programs, including the KF-X, Lockheed doesn’t have a good reason to be in a rush to aid the KF-X program, Yang said.
Global Hawks
On top of the F-35, South Korea announced it would buy four RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft built by Northrop Grumman for about $814 million, with first delivery by 2018. DAPA said it will sign a letter of acceptance with the US government this month before starting formal negotiations.
The South Korean military will use the high-flying spy drones to monitor key targets in North Korea as part of its “Kill Chain” missile defense system, which is designed to detect signs of impending missile attacks and launch pre-emptive attacks.
“The high-altitude UAV is the key weapons system for the Kill Chain by monitoring North Korea around the clock to detect early signs of provocations,” the agency said in a statement.
The Global Hawk can fly at an altitude of 18,000 meters (about 59,000 feet) or higher for 36 hours. With an operational range of 3,000 kilometers, it is capable of covering not only all of North Korea, but also parts of China and other neighboring countries. ■
Email: jsungki@defensenews.com.
S. Korea Wants Lockheed To Invest in Fighter Plan | Defense News | defensenews.com
Mar. 29, 2014 - 02:21PM |
By JUNG SUNG-KI |
South Korea has chosen to purchase the F-35 for its stealth capabilities, dropping an option to buy Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle. (US Air Force)
SEOUL — South Korea will ask Lockheed Martin to invest in the country’s KF-X fighter jet development project as part of offset deals over its selection of the F-35 joint strike fighter.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) made a final decision March 24 to buy 40 F-35As through the US Foreign Military Sales program.
A final contract on the deal will be signed by September, according to the arms agency, with the first delivery in 2018. The deal is expected to be worth around 7.4 trillion won ($6.8 billion).
Seoul redrew the terms of a $7.8 billion tender to buy 60 fighters last year after dropping an option to buy Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle in favor of purchasing a fighter with stealth capabilities. Seoul subsequently reduced the purchase to an initial 40 planes.
“The final price will be determined through negotiations between the South Korean and US governments,” DAPA spokesman Baek Yoon-hyung said. “We hope a final price will be reached by the end of this summer.”
“We are honored by and appreciate the trust and confidence the Republic of Korea has placed in the fifth-generation F-35 to meet its demanding security requirements,” said Orlando Carvalho, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics executive vice president. “We look forward to supporting the discussions between the Republic of Korea and US governments in support of a final agreement this year.”
Randy Howard, director of Lockheed’s F-35 business development, said he expects the F-35’s cost to take a downward path that will lead to a unit recurring flyaway cost for an F-35A of between US $80 million to $85 million.
But South Korean officials are cautious about Lockheed’s estimate. “It appears that Lockheed presupposes the best scenario for the progress of the F-35 program,” a Defense Ministry source said.
Both governments and Lockheed will start “two-track negotiations” on the price and offset package deals this week.
In the offset discussions, Seoul plans to ask Lockheed to shoulder as much as 20 percent of the KF-X development costs, according to multiple military sources.
The KF-X program is aimed at developing an F-16-class jet after 2023 in partnership with foreign governments and companies. Indonesia joined the program to cover 20 percent of the cost, estimated to be around $8.4 billion. Seoul is supposed to fund 60 percent.
“Our focus is to receive quality technology for the KF-X development,” said Jung Kwang-sun, head of DAPA’s Aircraft Business Department. “Should a partner company invest in a joint development project, it could be more responsible for the project concerned.”
Jung referred to the contract for the T-50 joint development program between South Korea and Lockheed. Under the contract, Lockheed covered 13 percent of the cost of developing the trainer jet, while the government and Korea Aerospace Industries shouldered 70 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
A Lockheed spokesperson said there has been no decision on the company’s investment in the KF-X. Lockheed has offered to provide more than 300 man-years’ worth of engineering expertise in assisting Seoul in designing KF-X.
The F-35 builder also will offer more than 500,000 pages of technical documentation derived from the F-16, F-35 and F-22, another stealth combat jet built by the US company.
But direct investment is a hard option for Lockheed to choose, said Yang Wook, a research member of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, based here.
“The KF-X is very different from the T-50,” Yang said. “Unlike the trainer, a KF-X could be a potential competitor with existing mid-sized fighter jets, including Lockheed Martin’s F-16.”
He said Lockheed could fall into a dilemma over how much it can and should support the KF-X, which has been troubled for years over budget and specifications.
At a time when South Korea is considering leasing secondhand US F-16s to help fill a potential vacuum in its air power caused by delays in fighter acquisition programs, including the KF-X, Lockheed doesn’t have a good reason to be in a rush to aid the KF-X program, Yang said.
Global Hawks
On top of the F-35, South Korea announced it would buy four RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft built by Northrop Grumman for about $814 million, with first delivery by 2018. DAPA said it will sign a letter of acceptance with the US government this month before starting formal negotiations.
The South Korean military will use the high-flying spy drones to monitor key targets in North Korea as part of its “Kill Chain” missile defense system, which is designed to detect signs of impending missile attacks and launch pre-emptive attacks.
“The high-altitude UAV is the key weapons system for the Kill Chain by monitoring North Korea around the clock to detect early signs of provocations,” the agency said in a statement.
The Global Hawk can fly at an altitude of 18,000 meters (about 59,000 feet) or higher for 36 hours. With an operational range of 3,000 kilometers, it is capable of covering not only all of North Korea, but also parts of China and other neighboring countries. ■
Email: jsungki@defensenews.com.
S. Korea Wants Lockheed To Invest in Fighter Plan | Defense News | defensenews.com
Indos
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Lookheed Martin previous promise for helping KFX/IFX if SK really buy F-35 (it actually did buy it now)
Posted : 2013-05-13 19:55 Updated : 2013-05-13 19:55
Lockheed Martin ready to commit to help KFX project
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is vying with Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle and EADS’s Eurofighter Typhoon for the 8.3-trillion-won Fighter Experimental III project.
Randy Howard, Lockheed Martin’s director of the Korea
F-35 Campaign
By Kang Seung-woo
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is seen as one of strongest candidates to win the FX (Fighter Experimental) III project thanks to its stealth function. However, some critics are expressing concerns about the foreign military sales (FMS) program.
They say that should the U.S. aerospace and defense giant win the 8.3-trillion-won ($7.5 billion) bid, Korea will not be able to take advantage of the most-expensive procurement deal in history.
That’s because unlike direct commercial sales (DCS), the government-to-government FMS in which Washington would broker a contract between Seoul and Lockheed Martin is likely to restrict the U.S. company from transferring technology, which Korea plans to use in the project aimed at replacing its aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.
However, Randy Howard, Lockheed Martin’s director of the Korea F-35 campaign, says Lockheed Martin is open to technology transfer and willing to make strong and solid commitments to help Korea with the project on the back of its track record.
“Lockheed is offering a robust industrial participation, offset, and technology transfer program. The offer includes the opportunity for the Korean industry to participate as a best value global supplier in the F-35 program, manufacturing the center wing and horizontal and vertical tails of the plane,” the American told The Korea Times.
“We’re also offering a robust technology transfer program for Korea’s KF-X indigenous fighter program. This offer includes a large contingent of Lockheed Martin engineers to assist in the design and development of the aircraft as well as an extensive amount of technical data drawn from the company’s existing fighter aircraft programs.”
He cited the T-50 as the firm’s proven track record of delivering on its offset commitments, saying the training jet, manufactured by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), is the product of a program that delivered technology transfer and an industrial partnership as part of the F-16 Korea Fighter Program (KFP).
Currently, along with the F-35, Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle (SE) and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company’s (EADS) Eurofighter Typhoon are competing to win the FX contract that will purchase a high-end fleet of 60 combat aircrafts and start deploying them from 2016. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) plans to come up with a winner by the end of June.
There is negative public sentiment about the F-35 due to the FMS, under which details of the plane’s sale must meet U.S. government regulations.
However, Howard said there is no difference between the FSM and DCS, given the export of the technology process is the same for both.
“It is the same offices, same people, same restrictions, same enablement, and the fact that it is FMS has no additional bearing on potential export or non-export of the technology to Korea. For both FMS and DCS, they both have to go to the same State Department and the same offices have to approve the transfer,” he said.
In addition, he stressed that Lockheed Martin has been very successful in getting approval and working with the U.S. government under the FMS program.
“It’s important to have a contractor who knows how to sit down and work with the U.S. government to describe the programs and get the approvals for the export of technology,” he said.
“Lockheed Martin has done this better all around the world. We set licensed co-production of F-16s here in Korea. We worked with the Japanese industry for the production of their aircraft, the F-2. We have licensed co-production for F-16s in Turkey. So all around the world we have successfully established indigenous production programs based on the F-16 and other products.”
Along with technology transfer, the cost of the high-end fleet of fighter jets is expected to play a key role.
But the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the U.S. Congress in April of a potential FMS of 60 F-35 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $10.8 billion, which is way beyond DAPA’s expectations.
Howard is confident that the final cost of an F-35 program for Korea will go down, calling it a “cost ceiling.”
“The production cost of the F-35 has been reduced by 50 percent from the first year of production to the fifth year of production,” he said.
“We are in final negotiations with the U.S. government on the sixth and seventh production lots and further cost reductions will be realized. The final cost of an F-35 program will be based upon discussions that occur between the Korean and U.S. governments.”
Among the three candidates, the F-35 is the only fifth-generation multirole fighter and the director said it provides a quantum lead in capability over all fourth-generation ones.
“2G phones are functional. You can do two things ― make phone calls and get email. But it does not have any apps. It’s limited in how it functions in today’s world and for the future. It’s at the end of its production life. That is a very similar analogy to a fourth-generation airplane. It’s at the end of its production and has limited functionality, and its future is not very bright,” he said.
“And yet, smartphones change how you live your life. You can do so many more things with a smartphone: You can put new software on it because there are applications out there which you can plug and play very easily. Smartphones are multitasking and this is what the F-35 does. It multitasks.
“If I came to you and said I want you to buy 60 2G phones, and I will give you all the software that goes with it. Would this be a good deal for you? The real point I’m making is that, Korea already has the vast majority of the software, capabilities, and technology to build fourth-generation aircraft.”
Lockheed Martin ready to commit to help KFX project
Posted : 2013-05-13 19:55 Updated : 2013-05-13 19:55
Lockheed Martin ready to commit to help KFX project
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is vying with Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle and EADS’s Eurofighter Typhoon for the 8.3-trillion-won Fighter Experimental III project.
Randy Howard, Lockheed Martin’s director of the Korea
F-35 Campaign
By Kang Seung-woo
Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is seen as one of strongest candidates to win the FX (Fighter Experimental) III project thanks to its stealth function. However, some critics are expressing concerns about the foreign military sales (FMS) program.
They say that should the U.S. aerospace and defense giant win the 8.3-trillion-won ($7.5 billion) bid, Korea will not be able to take advantage of the most-expensive procurement deal in history.
That’s because unlike direct commercial sales (DCS), the government-to-government FMS in which Washington would broker a contract between Seoul and Lockheed Martin is likely to restrict the U.S. company from transferring technology, which Korea plans to use in the project aimed at replacing its aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.
However, Randy Howard, Lockheed Martin’s director of the Korea F-35 campaign, says Lockheed Martin is open to technology transfer and willing to make strong and solid commitments to help Korea with the project on the back of its track record.
“Lockheed is offering a robust industrial participation, offset, and technology transfer program. The offer includes the opportunity for the Korean industry to participate as a best value global supplier in the F-35 program, manufacturing the center wing and horizontal and vertical tails of the plane,” the American told The Korea Times.
“We’re also offering a robust technology transfer program for Korea’s KF-X indigenous fighter program. This offer includes a large contingent of Lockheed Martin engineers to assist in the design and development of the aircraft as well as an extensive amount of technical data drawn from the company’s existing fighter aircraft programs.”
He cited the T-50 as the firm’s proven track record of delivering on its offset commitments, saying the training jet, manufactured by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), is the product of a program that delivered technology transfer and an industrial partnership as part of the F-16 Korea Fighter Program (KFP).
Currently, along with the F-35, Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle (SE) and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company’s (EADS) Eurofighter Typhoon are competing to win the FX contract that will purchase a high-end fleet of 60 combat aircrafts and start deploying them from 2016. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) plans to come up with a winner by the end of June.
There is negative public sentiment about the F-35 due to the FMS, under which details of the plane’s sale must meet U.S. government regulations.
However, Howard said there is no difference between the FSM and DCS, given the export of the technology process is the same for both.
“It is the same offices, same people, same restrictions, same enablement, and the fact that it is FMS has no additional bearing on potential export or non-export of the technology to Korea. For both FMS and DCS, they both have to go to the same State Department and the same offices have to approve the transfer,” he said.
In addition, he stressed that Lockheed Martin has been very successful in getting approval and working with the U.S. government under the FMS program.
“It’s important to have a contractor who knows how to sit down and work with the U.S. government to describe the programs and get the approvals for the export of technology,” he said.
“Lockheed Martin has done this better all around the world. We set licensed co-production of F-16s here in Korea. We worked with the Japanese industry for the production of their aircraft, the F-2. We have licensed co-production for F-16s in Turkey. So all around the world we have successfully established indigenous production programs based on the F-16 and other products.”
Along with technology transfer, the cost of the high-end fleet of fighter jets is expected to play a key role.
But the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the U.S. Congress in April of a potential FMS of 60 F-35 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $10.8 billion, which is way beyond DAPA’s expectations.
Howard is confident that the final cost of an F-35 program for Korea will go down, calling it a “cost ceiling.”
“The production cost of the F-35 has been reduced by 50 percent from the first year of production to the fifth year of production,” he said.
“We are in final negotiations with the U.S. government on the sixth and seventh production lots and further cost reductions will be realized. The final cost of an F-35 program will be based upon discussions that occur between the Korean and U.S. governments.”
Among the three candidates, the F-35 is the only fifth-generation multirole fighter and the director said it provides a quantum lead in capability over all fourth-generation ones.
“2G phones are functional. You can do two things ― make phone calls and get email. But it does not have any apps. It’s limited in how it functions in today’s world and for the future. It’s at the end of its production life. That is a very similar analogy to a fourth-generation airplane. It’s at the end of its production and has limited functionality, and its future is not very bright,” he said.
“And yet, smartphones change how you live your life. You can do so many more things with a smartphone: You can put new software on it because there are applications out there which you can plug and play very easily. Smartphones are multitasking and this is what the F-35 does. It multitasks.
“If I came to you and said I want you to buy 60 2G phones, and I will give you all the software that goes with it. Would this be a good deal for you? The real point I’m making is that, Korea already has the vast majority of the software, capabilities, and technology to build fourth-generation aircraft.”
Lockheed Martin ready to commit to help KFX project
Indos
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1 year old news? We already in 2014
Yup...
Just want to share about USA TOT restriction issue regarding KFX project that some Chinese PDF members tried to point out before and bring back the previous commitment of LM........
Indos
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Design of long-delayed KF-X still in debate
A conceptual model of the single-engine C501
By Kang Seung-woo (The Korea Times)
After a decade-long delay, Korea's indigenous fighter program is about to officially hit the road with bidding by partner firms scheduled for next month.
However, which design concept to go with — a single- or twin-engine aircraft — is emerging as the biggest sticking point in the program, codenamed KF-X.
Currently, the state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD), siding with the Air Force, claims the nation's future fighter should be a two-engine, clean-sheet aircraft, proposing a design labeled C103.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), on the other hand, has promoted a single-engine version of an aircraft, named C501, to be derived from the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 light attack fighter, saying the plane is cheaper and easier to develop and build than the ADD preference.
The KF-X, aimed at manufacturing "F-16+ class" fighter jets with the help of global defense contractors to fill a fighter gap envisioned the next decade, has been delayed due to budget constraints and questions over its feasibility.
The program, initiated by the late former President Kim Dae-jung in March 2001, had its basic strategy resolved in April 2010 and the ADD conducted a final study on the feasibility of the development program between 2011 and 2012. The Air Force plans to secure 120 new jets to replace its aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s under the fighter project.
In January, 20 billion won ($18.7 million) from the defense budget for 2014 was appropriated for deciding on its design and engine, and DAPA said it would begin accepting bids from manufacturers to participate in the indigenous program in April.
A conceptual model of the twin-engine C103
The Korean Air Force believes that more than anything else, a twin-engine aircraft has better combat performance as well as better safety.
"Twin-engine fighters are more expensive, but they can carry heavier payloads over longer distances," said Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website.
"In addition, a twin-engine fighter provides a larger margin of safety in that if the pilot loses one engine, he can usually make it back to base with the remaining one."
The Air Force also prefers the twin-engine version for possible future upgrades.
"The C103 is a Eurofighter-like 4.5th-generation plane that can easily be upgraded to a fifth-generation fighter, while the C501 is a fourth-generation one," said a local aviation analyst on condition of anonymity.
The ADD has reserved space for a conformable weapons bay in its C103 design, which would give it the makings of a low-observable fighter.
The analyst said that if Korea opts for the twin-engine aircraft in the KF-X, the combat plane will eventually be able to replace the Air Force's F-16s and F-15s in the future.
"Otherwise, the KF-X will only end up as replacement for F-4s and F-5s," he said.
Thus far, the Korean Air Force has only used the American airplanes, so it has been troubled by U.S. interference in international sales and upgrades.
The Air Force says the clean-sheet, brand-new aircraft will be free from that hindrance. The KAI FA-50 is based on the T-50 supersonic trainer, co-developed with Lockheed Martin.
"The biggest advantage is that Korea will be able to export it without an export license (from the United States)," said Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum.
"The aircraft will help the Air Force save operational and maintenance costs, as well."
In addition, the Air Force says that the development of F-16-class fighters will be meaningless because the KF-X planes will enter service from 2023, with neighboring countries such as China and Japan featuring advanced stealth jets — J-20s and F-35s, respectively.
"In terms of military strategy and military buildup, considering the operational environment of the 2030s to 2050s, the Air Force believes that a twin-engine fighter is a better choice," said an Air Force officer.
"However, it is the defense ministry's task force who calls the shots and we will follow the decision."
According to KAI, the C501 will be built based on the FA-50, although it will be larger, but Yang said that the up-sizing plan is unfeasible.
"If the C501 is built based on FA-50, KAI should redesign the plane's aerodynamics, which will pose a big financial burden," he said.
"If so, there will not be much difference between the C501 and C103 in terms of cost and development time."
However, according to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) in November, the single-engine design will cost 6.4 trillion won for development, compared with 8.6 trillion won for the twin-engine aircraft. In addition, the single-engine plane's operational and maintenance costs were evaluated at about 1 trillion won cheaper, along with earlier deployment — 10.5 years for the twin-engine model and 8.5 years for the single version.
"KAI is a listed company, so they should consider seeking a profit from the KF-X," said the aviation analyst.
Richard Aboulafia, vice president of the Virginia-based Teal Group, believes that there is definitely a market for a new medium weight affordable fighter design in the coming decades. Lockheed Martin is expected to close its near-ubiquitous F-16 production line in 2015.
"The KF-X should follow previous successful medium fighters like the F-16 and Dassault Mirage series," he said.
Aboulafia also said that a decision to make the KF-X a twin-engine design would be very damaging to export prospects.
"Two large combat engines would make the KF-X too large and expensive for most of the export fighter market," he said.
"On the flip side, if two small civilian engines are adapted for combat use, that would make the KF-X an underperforming and inadequate plane, much like Taiwan's Ching Kuo."
In terms of combat performance, the number of engine is not a conclusive factor.
"The engine is a crucial part of a combat aircraft, but it is merely one aspect of a system of systems. Employed properly, both single and twin-engine fighters can be highly effective in combat." Waldron said.
James Hardy, Asia-Pacific editor of IHS Jane's Defense Weekly, calls the Air Force's preference for a twin-engine aircraft "ironic" given that it turned down twin-engine F-15 in favor of the single-engine F-35 in the F-X III competition last year.
"Single engine aircraft are no longer seen as inferior for most missions — thus the F-35 is single-engine, as are the F-16 and Saab Gripen," he said.
Yang said that there is no clear definition for the KF-X and that has led to ceaseless debates.
"If an aircraft from the KF-X achieves stealth fighter status, it is a high-class fighter jet now, but it will be a medium fighter in 2025-26. There is no clear standard for a medium-class aircraft," he said.
"I believe that KAI will be able to manufacture the high-class plane, should it get more funds. If the government really wants to see economic effects from the KF-X, it should be a national project."
DAPA wants a participant to optionally pay 20 percent of the KF-X development cost, which will prevent KAI from developing a twin-engine aircraft that requires more technical effort. In addition, the arms procurement agency will require compensation for any delay in deployment, the unidentified analyst said.
"If a decision to go ahead with a twin-engine design is made, the government should ease the company's financial burden," he said.
Design of long-delayed KF-X still in debate
A conceptual model of the single-engine C501
By Kang Seung-woo (The Korea Times)
After a decade-long delay, Korea's indigenous fighter program is about to officially hit the road with bidding by partner firms scheduled for next month.
However, which design concept to go with — a single- or twin-engine aircraft — is emerging as the biggest sticking point in the program, codenamed KF-X.
Currently, the state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD), siding with the Air Force, claims the nation's future fighter should be a two-engine, clean-sheet aircraft, proposing a design labeled C103.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), on the other hand, has promoted a single-engine version of an aircraft, named C501, to be derived from the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 light attack fighter, saying the plane is cheaper and easier to develop and build than the ADD preference.
The KF-X, aimed at manufacturing "F-16+ class" fighter jets with the help of global defense contractors to fill a fighter gap envisioned the next decade, has been delayed due to budget constraints and questions over its feasibility.
The program, initiated by the late former President Kim Dae-jung in March 2001, had its basic strategy resolved in April 2010 and the ADD conducted a final study on the feasibility of the development program between 2011 and 2012. The Air Force plans to secure 120 new jets to replace its aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s under the fighter project.
In January, 20 billion won ($18.7 million) from the defense budget for 2014 was appropriated for deciding on its design and engine, and DAPA said it would begin accepting bids from manufacturers to participate in the indigenous program in April.
A conceptual model of the twin-engine C103
The Korean Air Force believes that more than anything else, a twin-engine aircraft has better combat performance as well as better safety.
"Twin-engine fighters are more expensive, but they can carry heavier payloads over longer distances," said Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry website.
"In addition, a twin-engine fighter provides a larger margin of safety in that if the pilot loses one engine, he can usually make it back to base with the remaining one."
The Air Force also prefers the twin-engine version for possible future upgrades.
"The C103 is a Eurofighter-like 4.5th-generation plane that can easily be upgraded to a fifth-generation fighter, while the C501 is a fourth-generation one," said a local aviation analyst on condition of anonymity.
The ADD has reserved space for a conformable weapons bay in its C103 design, which would give it the makings of a low-observable fighter.
The analyst said that if Korea opts for the twin-engine aircraft in the KF-X, the combat plane will eventually be able to replace the Air Force's F-16s and F-15s in the future.
"Otherwise, the KF-X will only end up as replacement for F-4s and F-5s," he said.
Thus far, the Korean Air Force has only used the American airplanes, so it has been troubled by U.S. interference in international sales and upgrades.
The Air Force says the clean-sheet, brand-new aircraft will be free from that hindrance. The KAI FA-50 is based on the T-50 supersonic trainer, co-developed with Lockheed Martin.
"The biggest advantage is that Korea will be able to export it without an export license (from the United States)," said Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum.
"The aircraft will help the Air Force save operational and maintenance costs, as well."
In addition, the Air Force says that the development of F-16-class fighters will be meaningless because the KF-X planes will enter service from 2023, with neighboring countries such as China and Japan featuring advanced stealth jets — J-20s and F-35s, respectively.
"In terms of military strategy and military buildup, considering the operational environment of the 2030s to 2050s, the Air Force believes that a twin-engine fighter is a better choice," said an Air Force officer.
"However, it is the defense ministry's task force who calls the shots and we will follow the decision."
According to KAI, the C501 will be built based on the FA-50, although it will be larger, but Yang said that the up-sizing plan is unfeasible.
"If the C501 is built based on FA-50, KAI should redesign the plane's aerodynamics, which will pose a big financial burden," he said.
"If so, there will not be much difference between the C501 and C103 in terms of cost and development time."
However, according to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP) in November, the single-engine design will cost 6.4 trillion won for development, compared with 8.6 trillion won for the twin-engine aircraft. In addition, the single-engine plane's operational and maintenance costs were evaluated at about 1 trillion won cheaper, along with earlier deployment — 10.5 years for the twin-engine model and 8.5 years for the single version.
"KAI is a listed company, so they should consider seeking a profit from the KF-X," said the aviation analyst.
Richard Aboulafia, vice president of the Virginia-based Teal Group, believes that there is definitely a market for a new medium weight affordable fighter design in the coming decades. Lockheed Martin is expected to close its near-ubiquitous F-16 production line in 2015.
"The KF-X should follow previous successful medium fighters like the F-16 and Dassault Mirage series," he said.
Aboulafia also said that a decision to make the KF-X a twin-engine design would be very damaging to export prospects.
"Two large combat engines would make the KF-X too large and expensive for most of the export fighter market," he said.
"On the flip side, if two small civilian engines are adapted for combat use, that would make the KF-X an underperforming and inadequate plane, much like Taiwan's Ching Kuo."
In terms of combat performance, the number of engine is not a conclusive factor.
"The engine is a crucial part of a combat aircraft, but it is merely one aspect of a system of systems. Employed properly, both single and twin-engine fighters can be highly effective in combat." Waldron said.
James Hardy, Asia-Pacific editor of IHS Jane's Defense Weekly, calls the Air Force's preference for a twin-engine aircraft "ironic" given that it turned down twin-engine F-15 in favor of the single-engine F-35 in the F-X III competition last year.
"Single engine aircraft are no longer seen as inferior for most missions — thus the F-35 is single-engine, as are the F-16 and Saab Gripen," he said.
Yang said that there is no clear definition for the KF-X and that has led to ceaseless debates.
"If an aircraft from the KF-X achieves stealth fighter status, it is a high-class fighter jet now, but it will be a medium fighter in 2025-26. There is no clear standard for a medium-class aircraft," he said.
"I believe that KAI will be able to manufacture the high-class plane, should it get more funds. If the government really wants to see economic effects from the KF-X, it should be a national project."
DAPA wants a participant to optionally pay 20 percent of the KF-X development cost, which will prevent KAI from developing a twin-engine aircraft that requires more technical effort. In addition, the arms procurement agency will require compensation for any delay in deployment, the unidentified analyst said.
"If a decision to go ahead with a twin-engine design is made, the government should ease the company's financial burden," he said.
Design of long-delayed KF-X still in debate
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Seoul speeds up fighter jet development plan
Published : 2014-07-08
South Korea is accelerating its efforts to develop an indigenous warplane with a plan to give public notice of bids for the so-called KFX project as early as August.
The military plans to confirm its required operational capabilities for the project at the Joint Chiefs of Staff Council session in mid-July, and finalize the bidding plan during a session of the national defense acquisition program committee next month.
The KFX program, which includes both the development and production of the home-built warplane, is expected to cost nearly 20 trillion won ($19.7 billion). Under the project, Seoul seeks to deploy 120 fighters after 2023 to replace its aging fleets of F-4s and F-5s.
Since February, a Defense Ministry task force consisting of officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Program Acquisition Administration and Air Force has been conducting research for the development project.
The task force has had heated discussions particularly on whether to opt for a single- or double-engine platform. Sources said that the taskforce had chosen a double-engine platform.
The Agency for Defense Development and Air Force have demanded a double-engine type. They argued that a plane with two engines could carry more weapons and fuel, and improve the plane’s mobility with a greater thrust. They also said the survivability of pilots would be raised given that one engine would still function should the other break down.
But those favoring a single-engine platform have maintained that the double-engine type carries a higher price tag, thus making it less attractive for foreign buyers. They also argued that thanks to current advanced engine technology, the chances of engine-related accidents were not high.
According to government research, the development of a single-engine platform would cost 6.4 trillion won, while the double-engine platform would cost 8.6 trillion won.
Seoul’s efforts to accelerate the development of the new fighter underscores growing concerns over the potential air security vacuum. The Air Force is expected to face a shortage of around 100 fighters in 2019 when almost all of the F-4s and F-5s will be decommissioned.
By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
Seoul speeds up fighter jet development plan
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