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The news saying that they try to assemble it too fast to match Prabowo visit is not true. Prabowo main reason to visit Korea at that time is to attend KFX/IFX roll out ceremony, not something else. The invitation to attend KFX/IFX roll out has been given by DAPA Minister who came to Jakarta in late March.

Jokowi also appeared on the ceremony through video call, so there is actually no real problem if the physical visit is not done because pandemic can always be used as reason.

These people wouldn't even know that the original roll-out schedule was around May lmao.

That dimwit retard who've reported this shit on Joongang daily was pretty salty about the fact that he wasn't allowed into the assembly line to take pictures when he visited KAI' factory before the roll out.

Now KAI's engineers are extremely pissed, I should say that I wouldn't be all that surprised if Joongang daily would not get invited for any future KF-X/IF-X related events. Of course that's a bit far fetched but it would be sweet to see such thing happen.
 
Recent Progress

There are 3 prototypes being assembled

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And other two prototypes are under test, including the first prototype that can be seen as background of the second prototipe

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How S. Korean fighter jets are assembled by hand


Posted on : Jun.10,2021 17:19 KST Modified on : Jun.10,2021 17:19 KST


KAI opened up the KF-21 assembly line to the Hankyoreh



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The assembly line for prototypes of the KF-21 Boramae, a South Korea jet fighter (Kim Jae-seob/The Hankyoreh)

I stood on the assembly line for prototypes of the KF-21 Boramae, a South Korea jet fighter, on Friday at a factory operated by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.

The first prototype was unveiled in a roll-out ceremony — sso-calledbecause the assembled plane “rolls out” on its own wheels — that was attended by South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 9. The next five prototypes are being assembled on the line, with their guts on full display. The second prototype is currently being tested to check whether missiles can be loaded properly.

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KF-21 assembly line made public for the first time

Airplane prototypes are made to run various tests, including test flights, before the planes go into mass production. The planes are opened up and taken apart to fix or replace flawed parts and then reassembled for more tests — a process that’s repeated over and over again.

Before the prototype plane can receive the OK for a test flight, it has to go through a year or so of ground testing.

KAI opened up the KF-21 assembly line to the Hankyoreh, the first South Korean newspaper to gain access to the site. The wings and fuselages of the fighters on the assembly line were all painted light green, reminding me of the tender leaves on a mulberry tree in the early spring.

Almost the entire assembly process is done by hand. Twenty engineers were working together to load missiles on the second prototype plane.

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The TA-50 advanced training aircraft

“You may have imagined the kind of conveyer belt you might see on an automobile assembly line, but this is completely different,” said Kim Jun-myeong, head of KAI’s operations department, with a smile.

“Airplanes can’t be welded because they’re made of aluminum and other special materials. We assemble the fuselage and attach wings to the fuselage by drilling lots of holes on both sides for inserting rivets. A single wing needs more than 10,000 rivets,” said Lee Il-woo, a senior engineer on the KF-21 project.

Running my hand along the joint, I find the rivets as dense and neat as if they’d been sewn by machine. The rivets themselves are so smooth I can’t even feel them with my hand. If a rivet protruded even a single millimeter from the surface, it would create air resistance.

“The interior of the fighter has a complicated latticework designed to continue functioning even if some parts are damaged by gunfire during a dogfight. Electronic equipment runs from the cockpit to the ends of the wings,” Lee said.

There are nine fuel tanks attached to the plane, all of which are designed to be controlled electronically from the cockpit.

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The KT-1 basic training aircraft


The electronic devices on the half-finished prototype I was shown on Friday were connected by cables of various lengths and thicknesses, which ran through conduits in the latticework, sometimes bunched up and sometimes spreading apart. Some of the cables were tied together at intervals of one to two centimeters and attached tightly to the latticework frame of the fuselage.

“Because the fighter is so fast and has to make sharp climbs repeatedly and steep dives, any slack in the wiring would make noise and cause damage,” Lee said.


The prototype roll-out marks the midway point in development

Once the fighter prototypes are equipped with various weapons, they’re moved to the location for ground testing. It took the first prototype around six years to reach this stage.

The first prototype is currently in the building opposite the assembly line, where its insides are exposed for ground testing. That alone will take another year or so.

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The KUH Surion

“We keep running ground tests and making improvements until we decide that the fighter is ready to be fueled up and sent on a test flight. If we confirm that there are no problems after 2,341 hours of test flights, we begin mass production. In terms of the total development schedule, we’ve reached the midway point,” said Ryu Gwang-su, head of KAI’s fixed-wing project division.

Helicopters ordered by the police and the South Gyeongsang Province Fire Department are being assembled on the rotary-wing line. Just as with jet fighters, a considerable amount of this work is done by hand.

“These helicopters are civilian versions of the KUH Surion, a military transport helicopter that was developed to improve our defense capabilities. Before delivery, we add specific functions needed by our clients, which include fire departments, the police, and corporations,” said Kim, head of operations.

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The KUH Surion is being assembled.

KAI divides its projects into “fixed-wing” and “rotary-wing” divisions, depending on the type of aircraft. The fixed-wing division mass produces the KT-1 basic training aircraft and the TA-50 advanced training aircraft both for the Republic of Korea Air Force and for export to countries such as Thailand and Malaysia. That led to the development of the KF-21 in partnership with Indonesia.

A total of 170 KF-21 fighters have been ordered. KAI plans to enter mass production in the middle of 2024, following ground testing and the first flight.

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The prototype of the light-armed helicopter being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries

KAI’s rotary-wing division supplies the Surion transport helicopter to the South Korean military and foreign governments, including Cambodia and Indonesia. Division engineers are currently developing a small attack helicopter.

“When the advanced training aircraft finished its first flight and came down the runway, staff were crying and hugging each other on the factory roof,” Kim said.

By Kim Jae-seob, senior staff writer

 
Some Korean analyst/ strategists worried about Indonesian plan to acquire fighters at this period that could decrease Indonesian possible KF 21/IFX acquisition beside the already 48 planes.

As I said many times here, Jokowi administration is very economic centric and pro local defense industry. All defense acquisition should pass two stages, which is Planning Ministry and then Finance Ministry.

Planning ministry has previously accepted 1.6 billion USD foreign loan to finance fighter acquisition, but later Finance Ministry slash the figure further and only approve 1.1 billion USD. It is actually the same figure approved for SU 35 deal in Jokowi first term that has been now scrapped due to CATSAA.

Source


The acquisition of 1.1 billion USD worth of fighters and its necessary equipment is still rational since it is intended for F 5 squadron where all the planes have been long grounded. The squadron now get 3 Su 32 planes which is borrowed from another squadron as interim solution to keep the F 5 squadron pilots skill while waiting for new fighters to come

Once the new administration appear in the late of 2024 inshaAllah, KF 21/IFX program will be near its completion for first block inshaAllah. As we have law to forbid any foreign defense equipment acquisition that can be replaced by products made by our local industry, so KF 21/IFX will likely become the bulk of fighters for Indonesia Air Force until the next decades.

IMO Prabowo is unlikely becoming next Indonesian President. Particularly after his reckless plan to acquire foreign made weapon using huge foreign loan get leak and now become backlash to his present image. I would say next month survey will likely see his popularity come down.

Recent survey has shown Anies Baswedan, Jakarta Governor, lead.

Latest statement from Planning Ministry, Today, has said Jokowi administration only approve 20 billion USD for defense procurement until 2024. AlhamduliLLAH.

So basically it is still like previous plan where fighter acquisition only get approval of 1.1 billion USD from Finance Minister (from 1.6 billion USD approval from Planning Ministry).

From 20 billion USD loan, some portion will be financed by local bank to buy local defense products, so foreign defense equipment will not likely exceed15 billion USD, it could be less than 15 billion USD that will be used for Air Force, Navy, and Army.

He said in the parliament Today, so what has become Prabowo plan is very unlikely to be realized inshaAllah. Prabowo previously stated he wants to spend around 120 billion USD within Jokowi second term (2019-2024) through foreign loan.

Source


Finance Minister rejected 56 foreign loan proposal for defense program

Latest revelation also shows Finance Minister rejected 56 defense acquisition program proposal that will be finance by foreign loan (proposed by Prabowo/Minister of Defense).

Even in this document, Jane Defense journalist hasnt found fighter program acquisition, while Indonesian other forum member who has connection to Planning Ministary and has seen blue book (approve program until 2024 by Planning Minister (first stage of screening) ) and green book (approved program for this year by Finance Minister (last stage of screening) ) also hasnt found combat aircraft program as well.

Source:


This shows Jokowi, look like, wants to see KF21/IFX as Indonesian backbone fighters which is inline with what he has said during KF21/IFX roll out ceremony.
 
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Latest statement from Planning Ministry, Today, has said Jokowi administration only approve 20 billion USD for defense procurement until 2024. AlhamduliLLAH.

So basically it is still like previous plan where fighter acquisition only get approval of 1.1 billion USD from Finance Minister (from 1.6 billion USD approval from Planning Ministry).

From 20 billion USD loan, some portion will be financed by local bank to buy local defense products, so foreign defense equipment will not likely exceed15 billion USD, it could be less than 15 billion USD that will be used for Air Force, Navy, and Army.

He said in the parliament Today, so what has become Prabowo plan is very unlikely to be realized inshaAllah. Prabowo previously stated he wants to spend around 120 billion USD within Jokowi second term (2019-2024) through foreign loan.

Source


Finance Minister rejected 56 foreign loan proposal for defense program

Latest revelation also shows Finance Minister rejected 56 defense acquisition program proposal that will be finance by foreign loan (proposed by Prabowo/Minister of Defense).

Even in this document, Jane Defense journalist hasnt found fighter program acquisition, while Indonesian other forum member who has connection to Planning Ministary and has seen blue book (approve program until 2024 by Planning Minister (first stage of screening) ) and green book (approved program for this year by Finance Minister (last stage of screening) ) also hasnt found combat aircraft program as well.

Source:


This shows Jokowi, look like, wants to see KF21/IFX as Indonesian backbone fighters which is inline with what he has said during KF21/IFX roll out ceremony.

This I will give the allocation for Air Force for foreign loan which is 8.6 billion USD (2020- 2024), Navy will get 7.5 billion USD foreign loan, and Army will get 4.4 billion USD foreign loan.

TNI AU: Air Force. TNI AL: Navy, TNI AD: Army
Total Foreign loan. Milyar means Billion. This is in Billion USD

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Fighter get 1.6 billion USD allocation for foreign loan (2020-2024 period)

These are the ones that have got approval from Planning Ministry, but the real allocation that will be disbursed will still depend on Finance Minister and the amount will be approved gradually every year and will depend on overall economy condition.

Fighter allocation, for example, according to Alman Helvast (Defense consultant) who has source in Finance Ministry has been slashed into 1.1 billion USD. You can see the source in my quoted post in post 319

This is the allocation for Air Force for foreign loan (approved by Planning Minister) until 2024, still Finance Minister still has veto to slash it further or not.

Milliar means Billion. This is in billion USD

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There is domestic funding as well for local defense product, but I dont put it here since it is not relevant with KFX/IFX thread
 
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AlhamduliLLAH

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Indonesia agree on close cooperation for joint fighter project
All News 19:44 June 25, 2021

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Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong (L, center) holds talks with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, in Jakarta on June 25, 2021, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea and Indonesia agreed Friday to closely cooperate to smoothly proceed with joint fighter jet development and other mutually beneficial projects, the foreign ministry said.

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, held talks to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues. Indonesia was the last leg of his five-day trip to Southeast Asia that also included visits to Vietnam and Singapore.

"The ministers assessed outcomes of cooperation that the two countries have achieved in the defense industry sector, which symbolizes their strategic trust," the ministry said in a press release.

"Especially, the ministers agreed to closely cooperate to make sure that mutually beneficial, substantive cooperation projects like the KF-21/IF-X project will proceed smoothly," it added.

Under a bilateral arrangement for the KF-21/IF-X project, Indonesia had promised to shoulder 20 percent of the cost for the development of fighters. But it stopped making payments after investing 227.2 billion won (US$201 million).

The two ministers also agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of vaccine procurement and public health to overcome the new coronavirus. To that end, Chung said that Seoul plans to offer Indonesia $4 million worth of items, including COVID-19 diagnostic kits, this year.

Chung pledged to continue close exchanges with Indonesia, calling the country a "core" partner of Seoul's New Southern Policy aimed at strengthening ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Chung also paid a courtesy call on President Joko Widodo and stressed that the two countries' relations have been at their best in recent years.


 
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Under a bilateral arrangement for the KF-21/IF-X project, Indonesia had promised to shoulder 20 percent of the cost for the development of fighters. But it stopped making payments after investing 227.2 billion won (US$201 million).

.. and Indonesia needs to show good faith by fixing this problem asap.
 
.. and Indonesia needs to show good faith by fixing this problem asap.

The financial obligation of Indonesia in this program is likely to be fixed after the renegotiation is concluded inshaAllah. August is the time where both parties will have the meeting again.

IMO Indonesia is getting more serious and has prepared the engineers to come back to South Korea in the second semester this year after their departure in March 2020 (after the design is completed in 2019 September, as Indonesian engineers previously departed to South Korea are design engineers and other engineers related to design testing ).

According to our source, Finance Minister has also disbursed money for LIFT aircraft. I dont know whether it is 1.1 billion USD that previously stated by Alman Helvas as budget for Fighter acquisition (since there is no combat plane acquisition program being approved by planning Ministry until 2024 according to Indonesian member in other forum who has seen the document), or it is coming from other budget.

It is likely T 50 from KAI and it means we will give KAI another significant sales for their plane. Actually it is brillian to spend on LIFT aircraft Today since we are preparing to have at least 48 KF21/IFX until 2035 and more KF 21/IFX after 2035 (as stated by Jokowi during KF 21 roll out ceremony).
 
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Previously reported by Jane Defense, so in this report Indonesian engineers who contribute on KF 21/IFX development (particularly during design phase) is more than 140 engineers. They return to Indonesia after the prototype start being built in the beginning of 2020

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29 April 2021

Indonesia looks to restart work on KF-21 project

by Jon Grevatt


Aerospace engineers from Indonesia could soon return to South Korea to recommence work on the development of the KF-21 fighter aircraft, Janes understands.

More than 140 Indonesian personnel returned home in March 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic but their return to South Korea could soon be facilitated through government-level talks between the two countries, official sources confirmed to Janes.

However, a stumbling block to co-operation could be funding and the scope to which Indonesia agrees to support the KF-21 development programme (also named KF-X) going forward.

 
This is in Korea Aerospace facility

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State of the art manufacturing facilities, esp when you compare with HAL ..
 
lol what’s with all these fake indian twitter accounts

i’m guessing this is why modiji cant ban twitter

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KF21/IFX specification :

1. AESA Radar and Advance Avionics
2. Advance Precision Weapons
3. 10 Weapon Hard points
4. High Maneuverability
5. Enhance Survivability
6. Advance Support Features
7. High Operational Efficiency
8. Single & Tandem seats Aircraft


Max. Thrust : 44,000 lb

Ferry Range : 1,550 nm ( 2,870 KM)

Max. Speed : 1,400 mph ( 1.82 Mach )

Max. Payload : 17,000 lb

MTOW : 56,400 lb

 
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Compare with F 35 A

Max. Thrust : 40,000 lb ( with afterburner )

Ferry Range : 1,200 nm ( 2,200 km )

Max. Speed : 1,200 mph ( 1.5 Mach )

Max. Payload : 18,000 lb ( 8,160 kg)

MTOW : 60,000 lb (27,216kg)
 
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