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

[ptldM3]

Seoul (AFP) - South Korea on Monday selected Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and partner Lockheed Martin as the preferred bidder for a multi-billion-dollar contract to develop 120 "indigenous" fighter jets.


The bid from KAI and the US aerospace giant was always seen as the favourite for the 8.6 trillion won (US $7.8 billion) deal over a rival bid by civilian carrier Korean Air (KAL) teamed with Airbus.

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 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," the state-run procurement agency said.

The South Korean government would 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.

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South Korea's military procurement needs, especially where the air force is concerned, have over …
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.

Korean Air currently operates aircraft maintenance workshops for both the South Korean and US air forces.

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.

 

[Malik Alashter]

I think it would be a revised version of the famous f-16.

 

[Shabi1]

Will probably be the KF-X C-501 design. Its a F-16/T-50 cross.

 

[graphican]

7.8 for 120 VS 20+ for Indian 124?

Jay baat kuch hajam nahi hue!

 

[Indos]

I think it would be a revised version of the famous f-16.

This is the look

 

[Indos]

It has two models basically :

1. Without Canard

2. With Canard

7.8 for 120 VS 20+ for Indian 124?

Jay baat kuch hajam nahi hue!

120 planes for South Korea, and for Indonesia 50-80 planes. We are at the program because South Korea requested and not because of the defense treaty that comes up later. I believe the cost is just for development and 8 prototypes.

 

[Tshering22]

It has two models basically :

1. Without Canard

2. With Canard

120 planes for South Korea, and for Indonesia 50-80 planes. We are at the program because South Korea requested and not because of the defense treaty that comes up later. I believe the cost is just for development and 8 prototypes.

Indonesia has made a smart decision.

It is interesting to see most of the 5th generation jets planned are all similar to each other in appearance. We have the AMCA project planned that is going on and it looks damn similar.

Indonesia will become a formidable air force in the region and become a leader of Southeast Asia.

Koreans are superb when it comes to technology.

 

[Indos]

Indonesia has made a smart decision.

It is interesting to see most of the 5th generation jets planned are all similar to each other in appearance. We have the AMCA project planned that is going on and it looks damn similar.

Indonesia will become a formidable air force in the region and become a leader of Southeast Asia.

Koreans are superb when it comes to technology.

Dont forget there is Lockheed Martin participation, and also their TOT promise after South Korea made a decision to buy about 45 F-35. We also have another STEALTH fighter program, developed by ourselves but looks more into research one.

Under LAPAN Agency (government agency) LFX=Lapan Fighter Experiment, even the look is much better............

 

[C130]

looks good. is it competing against the F-35?

 

[Malik Alashter]

I think I've read somewhere it's an F16 class that's why I said it would be a revised version of it. You may be right though.

 

[Storm Force]

7.8 billion is the cost to develop the PLANE.

this will take ten years from today.

SMART MOVE INVOLVING LOCKHEED IN PROGRAMME

I SUSPECT UNIT COST WILL BE OVER $100MILLION PLUS

 

[Indos]

KAI KF-X - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Korea Aerospace Industries KF-X/IF-X is a South Korean program to develop an advanced multirole fighter for theRepublic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU), spearheaded by South Korea with Indonesia as the primary partner.[2] It is South Korea's second fighter development program following the FA-50.

The project was first announced by South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung at the graduation ceremony of the Korea Air Force Academy in March 2001. South Korea and Indonesia agreed to cooperate in the production of KF-X/IF-X warplanes in Seoul on July 15, 2010.[3] The initial operational requirements for the KF-X/IF-X program as stated by the ADD (Agency for Defence Development) were to develop a single-seat, twin-engine jet with stealth capabilities beyond either the Dassault Rafale orEurofighter Typhoon, but still less than the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The overall focus of the program is producing a 4.5th generation fighter with higher capabilities than a KF-16 class fighter by 2020.[4][5][6] Quantities of the resulting fighter are planned at 120 for the ROK Air Force and 80 for the Indonesian Air Force.[7] South Korea plans to procure it from 2023 to 2030.[1]

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 or 2
• Length: 15.6 m (51.18 ft)
• Wingspan: 10.7 m (34.77 ft)
• Height: 4.5 m (14.76. ft)
• Powerplant: 2 × F414-GE-400K/EPE or EJ200 afterburning turbofan
  • Dry thrust: 13,000~13,500 lbf (57.8~60 kN) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 20,250~22,000 lbf (90~97.7 kN) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.97

Avionics

• Datalink capabilities
• AESA radar
• IRST
• E/O Targeting System (EOTS)

7.8 billion is the cost to develop the PLANE.

this will take ten years from today.

I SUSPECT UNIT COST WILL BE OVER $100MILLION PLUS

It has been started already, first phase has already been finished with a tested C-103 design. Next phase is manufacturing phase ( that include detail design), maybe started in the mid of this year.

ACAB APPOINTED BY LIG NEX1 TO DEVELOP KFX FIGHTER RADOME PROTOTYPE

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.

February 16, 2012
For more information, please contact Mr Torgny Stenholm, President of ACAB, phone +46 13 209701.

Pressrelease in PDF
FACTS ON LIG NEX1 AND ACAB
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.

ACAB appointed by LIG Nex1 to develop KFX fighter radome prototype - GKN Aerospace Applied Composites AB

 

[Nike]

looks good. is it competing against the F-35?

they work as complement i think, after all KFX can support the move of F-35 as air interdiction fighter