KF-X / IF-X stealth fighter aircraft of South Korea & Indonesia (images)

[Indos]

KFX stalls after only one bidder meets development deadline
Jon Grevatt, Bangkok and James Hardy, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
08 February 2015

Only one company has lodged a bid to develop the KFX aircraft, according to South Korea's defence procurement agency. Source: IHS/James Hardy

The Korean Fighter Experimental (KFX) aircraft programme stalled on 9 February when an insufficient number of companies lodged bids to secure a contract to complete development of the aircraft.

A spokesman from the country's military procurement agency - the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) - told IHS Jane's that only one company had lodged a bid by the deadline.

This company is understood to be Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), which is looking to undertake the KFX programme in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, with some of the work to be undertaken through defence offset attached to South Korea's programme to procure the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The DAPA spokesman added that a second round of KFX bidding will start on 10 February and close at the end of the month. This bidding process will seek to encourage at least one other company to lodge a bid for the programme. South Korean procurement rules dictate that all defence development and manufacturing programmes must have at least two bidders.

South Korea's national airline Korean Air is reportedly preparing a bid in co-operation with Airbus, but did not lodge a proposal by the deadline. A DAPA official quoted by South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Korean Air is expected to lodge its bid before the end of February. Requests for comment from Korean Air and KAI were not answered.

Local media reports had also suggested Boeing might take part with a platform based on the F/A-18 Super Hornet. However, a Boeing spokesperson told IHS Jane's on 6 February that "at this time, we believe that the timing is not right to enter the bidding process for the KF-X programme. Should the time frame for this competition change in the future, Boeing would consider how our expertise in developing and manufacturing our portfolio of strike fighters could best apply".

KFX stalls after only one bidder meets development deadline - IHS Jane's 360

 

[Indos]

Seoul forced to re-tender KFX bidding

By: GREG WALDRON
SINGAPORE
Source: Flightglobal.com
02:58 11 Feb 2015

Seoul has been forced to re-tender its bid for a developmental contract related to the country’s KFX fighter aircraft programme.

Since only one bidder, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), showed up to submit a bid on Monday 9 February, procurement laws have forced a retendering of the programme, says a report by state news agency Yonhap.

On 10 February, the country’s Defence Acquisition Procurement Agency (DAPA) posted the new tender for the KRW8.5 trillion ($8.3 billion) programme, which is to run from 2015 to 2025. The deadline for bidding has been pushed back to 24 February 2015.

The KFX is envisaged as a two-engined fighter that is more advanced than the Lockheed Martin F-16, but not up to the standard of types such as the F-35 Lightning II. It will replace obsolescent types in the Korean air force’s inventory, namely the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and Northrop F-5.

KAI would partner with Lockheed Martin on the project, in which the Indonesian government has a 20% share. Seoul is expected to order 120 examples of the KFX, and Indonesia 80.

Media reports indicate that the other likely bidder will be Korean Air through a partnership with AirbusDefence & Space. Although Airbus is primarily concerned with larger types such as the A400Mtactical transport and A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT), it has a 46% shareholding in theEurofighter Consortium.

The Eurofighter Typhoon was a failed bidder for Seoul’s F-X III competition, which was ultimately won by the F-35 in late 2013. The other failed bidder was Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle.

A hallmark of the intense – and often acrimonious - F-X III competition was the degree of industrial cooperation rival bidders were willing to offer in relation to KFX.

Both KAI and Korean Air have strong defence backgrounds, but KAI has more experience in developing and manufacturing fighter aircraft. Apart from collaborating with Lockheed to develop the T-50 family of trainer/light attack jets, it also produces the forward fuselage of the F-15, and has been involved in the manufacturing and re-manufacturing of other military types.

Korean Air, for its part, provides extensive MRO services for military aircraft at its Pusan facility.

In late 2014, Indonesia’s defence ministry said that Jakarta had signed an agreement with Seoul that set the stage for KFX to move into the “engineering and manufacturing phase” – the second of the programme’s three phases.

The statement said the first phase, which covered technology development, was completed in December 2012. The third and final phase of the programme covers the development of production capabilities.

​Seoul forced to re-tender KFX bidding - 2/11/2015 - Flight Global

 

[C130]

why not just buy 120 Pak-FA from Russia??

that would scare the crap out of Pyongyang.

 

[IND151]

It looks much similar to AMCA

 

[Indos]

why not just buy 120 Pak-FA from Russia??

that would scare the crap out of Pyongyang.

South Korea wants to compete with China and Japan in this field. Not just about North Korea in their mind. And we (Indonesian) also have big ambition as well. Advanced country like South Korea and big country like Indonesia usually have very similar trait which is CONFIDENT, we just want to compete with other big nation in Asia who has already similar program. For that ambition, we are united.

KAI builds aircraft development center, gears up to launch KF-X program
2014/09/16 15:50

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer and total systems integrator, said Tuesday that it has inked a deal to build a state-of-the-art development center as it prepares to launch the KF-X fighter program.

The new design and testing center for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft will be completed in November 2015 and be able to house 2,000 research and development personnel.

The building will be built by POSCO Engineering Co. at the company's production line in Sacheon, 437 kilometers southeast of Seoul. It will be seven stories tall with a floor space of 24,496 square meters on 4,231 square meters of land.

The center is part of a broader ongoing effort by KAI to hire more engineers and assembly line workers after it was tapped in July as the primary negotiating partner to develop the country's next light civilian helicopter (LCH) and light armed helicopter (LAH) project.

An artist's impression of South Korea's next-generation KF-X fighter jet. (Yonhap file photo)

KAI announced in August that it will hire 1,000 new workers for the LCH and LAH, as well as the KF-X program.

After much delay, Seoul is expected to pick a preferred bidder in November and sign a formal development contract in December. This could open the door for work to start in earnest in 2015.

KAI has said it will wait and see which company the government chooses, but the prevalent view is that the domestic aerospace company is the only realistic option.

The South Korean Air Force's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets are effectively reaching the end of their service and must be replaced with more modern planes in the near future.

The KF-X will be a twin-engine jet with capabilities slotting above the Air Force's current KF-16 fighters, but below the stealth F-35s it wants to buy from the United States. If development takes place according to plan, the first delivery should take place in the middle of the next decade.

"KAI, with its vast know-how accumulated through the development and production of the KT-1, T-50, FA-50 and KUH-1 Surion medium choppers, is confident it can develop the KF-X," the company said.

Besides getting ready on the hardware front, KAI is working with the government to conclude negotiations on the transfer of technology that will be needed for the KF-X. It said the talks may be concluded within the month at the earliest.

On the crucial issue of overseas investments that could defray the development costs of 18 trillion won (US$17.4 billion) over 10 years, KAI said both Lockheed Martin and Indonesia are optimistic about a partnership.

"Lockheed Martin helped develop the T-50, having footed 13 percent of the development costs, and is currently working to sell the supersonic trainer for the U.S. T-X project," KAI said. In the case of Indonesia, which has purchased the KT-1 and T-50, the aerospace company said a "special relationship" exists and that negotiations are entering the final phase.

yonngong@yna.co.kr

 

[Indos]

Korean Air and Korea Aerospace Industries lodge bids for KFX
Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
24 February 2015

Airline Korean Air and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have submitted bids to win the USD8 billion programme to complete development of the Korean Fighter Experimental (KFX) aircraft.

A spokesman from South Korea's procurement agency - the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) - told IHS Jane's that the two companies submitted bids before the deadline on 24 February.

As per bidding requirements, both Korean Air and KAI are teamed with foreign partners. Korean Air will partner Airbus, which has experience in fighter aircraft development through its involvement in the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, while KAI is teamed with Lockheed Martin, with which it has long-standing industrial ties.

Korean Air and Korea Aerospace Industries lodge bids for KFX - IHS Jane's 360

 

[Indos]

South Korea opts for KAI-Lockheed in $7.8 bln fighter deal

7 hours ago


Seoul (AFP) - South Korea on Monday selected Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and partner Lockheed Martin for a multi-billion-dollar contract to develop 120 "indigenous" fighter jets to replace Seoul's ageing fleet.

The bid from KAI and the US aerospace giant, which is subject to a screening process before being officially approved, was always seen as the favourite for the 8.6 trillion won ($7.8 billion) deal over a rival bid by civilian carrier Korean Air (KAL) teamed with Airbus.

The Defence Ministry also approved a separate $1.28 billion deal to buy Patriot PAC-3 missiles and upgrade its air defence system aimed at intercepting North Korean ballistic missiles.

The KF-X fighter project is designed to develop and produce 120 fighter jets of a new, indigenous type to replace South Korea's ageing fleet of F-4s and F-5s.

"We have chosen KAI as the preferred bidder based on our review of... cost, development plans and development capabilities of the two bidders," the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a statement.

"We are planning to sign the (final) contract during the first half of this year after negotiating with the preferred bidder over technology... and the price," it said.

View gallery

South Korea's military procurement needs, especially where the air force is concerned, have over …
The South Korean government is to provide 60 percent of the development costs, with the rest to be shared by the winning consortium and Indonesia, whose involvement is the result of a bilateral defence treaty.

The KAI-Lockheed alliance always had the upper hand, as the same partnership developed the T-50 trainer, which is South Korea's first homegrown supersonic aircraft.

Lockheed, which won a contract in 2013 to sell 40 F-35A joint strike fighters to South Korea, has promised to transfer key technologies for the KF-X project to Seoul.

South Korea's military procurement needs, especially where the air force is concerned, have overwhelmingly been met by US suppliers in the past -- a reflection of their close military alliance.

KAL had talked up its bid by highlighting the technical support available from Airbus, which is part of the European consortium that developed the Eurofighter.

Airbus has made a number of bids for the South's military contracts, including a $1.38 billion deal to provide air refuelling tankers.

The defence ministry's request for the KF-X project required a new design, although experts say a heavily modified version of an existing fighter model would also be acceptable.

DAPA officials said South Korea would also buy an unspecified number of "hit-and-kill" PAC-3 missiles from Lockheed Martin by 2020 to improve its anti-ballistic missile capabilities.

US defence contractor Raytheon has been selected to upgrade South Korea's PAC-2 fire control system to launch both PAC-2 and PAC-3 missile, DAPA spokesman Kim Si-Cheol told reporters.

South Korea opts for KAI-Lockheed in $7.8 bln fighter deal - Yahoo News

 

[Indos]

Indonesian, South Korean officials meet to discuss in KFX

By: GREG WALDRON
SINGAPORE
Source: Flightglobal.com
03:36 5 May 2015

Jakarta has reiterated its commitment as a partner in South Korea’s KFX indigenous fighter programme.

The Indonesian defence ministry released a statement on the programme following a visit to Indonesia by representatives of Seoul’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

"To overcome the problems that arise in the implementation of cooperation in KFX / IFX, it is necessary that the programme receive supervision from both countries. The Government of Indonesia has provided direction to PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) to implement the programme well ", says Lt Gen Prabowo Ediwan.

It adds that that DAPA is working with Korea Aerospace Industries - which was recently awarded preferred bidding status to develop and build the fighter - to ascertain the role of PTDI in the programme.

The KFX is envisaged as a two-engined fighter that is more advanced than the Lockheed Martin F-16, but not up to the standard of types such as the F-35 Lightning II. It will replace obsolescent types in the Korean air force’s inventory, namely the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and Northrop F-5.

The Indonesian government has a 20% share in the KRW8.5 trillion ($8.3 billion) programme. Seoul is expected to order 120 examples of the KFX, and Indonesia 80.

Indonesian, South Korean officials meet to discuss in KFX - 5/5/2015 - Flight Global

 

[Indos]

Old story, but important news for this Thread

Picture (Example)


ACAB Appointed by LIG Nex1 to Develop KFX Fighter Radome Prototype

ACAB Appointed by LIG Nex1 to Develop KFX Fighter Radome Prototype
(Source: Volvo Aero; issued Feb. 16, 2012)

The Volvo Aero owned company, Applied Composites AB – ACAB – has been appointed by LIG Nex1, a LIG Group company in South Korea, for the development of a prototype stealth radome for the KFX aircraft programme.

ACAB is recognized as one of the leading European suppliers of advanced composite components for military applications. Among other things, ACAB is specialized in advanced radome technology, including the latest generation stealth and low-observable technology. ACAB has supported and supplied Saab for over half a century with radome technology for the Saab fighter programmes. ACAB is the supplier of the Gripen fighter radomes.

LIG Nex1 is South Korea’s number one company on military products. LIG Nex1 is working in close collaboration with advanced global companies. LIG Nex1 is developing state-of-the-art weapon systems, including radar and surveillance systems.

The radome (radar dome) is the streamlined structural part in the nose of the aircraft which protects the radar antenna from wind and weather. It is carefully designed to withstand the mechanical loads without compromising the radar performance. In addition, it increases the survivability of the aircraft due to its sophisticated stealth features.

The KFX aircraft is intended to replace South Korea’s aging F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II aircraft. The production numbers are estimated to exceed 250 aircraft. The contract includes exploratory development and production of prototypes for an undisclosed contract value. It is still too early to determine the number of people at ACAB that will be involved in development and production.

“We are very proud of and pleased with the contract from LIG Nex1 since it consolidates our position as world leader in radomes” says Torgny Stenholm, President of ACAB.

“In addition, the agreement is considered to be strategically important for ACAB as the company has plans to expand within the commercial and military aerospace segments”, he adds.

LIG Nex1 was established in 1976 to support a self-reliant defense system for Korea. LIG Nex1 has grown into a top-caliber defense company.

ACAB, Applied Composites Aktiebolag, is a Volvo Aero company based in Linköping, Sweden. ACAB is a leading supplier of advanced composite subsystems and structural parts for aerospace and defence applications.