JAKARTA - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is ready to conduct the maiden test flight of the KF-21 Boramae later this month, as the domestic KF-X fighter jet program has gone ahead as planned.
The plan was revealed at an event with the media, where KAI, the sole national aircraft manufacturer, also conducted the fighter jet's first public runway test at its headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.
It is known that to date six flying prototypes of the KF-21 Boramae have been launched.
"The first test flight is expected to take place in the third or fourth week of July," said Kim Nam-shin, senior manager of the KF-X Program Division at KAI.
"If that happens, the flight test will be carried out for about three days," he continued.
The KF-X program aims to produce 120 advanced multi-role fighter jets to replace the Republic of Korea Air Force's F-4 and F-5 fleet by 2032.
South Korea and Indonesia signed an agreement in 2010 to cooperate on the project, under which Jakarta would fund 20 percent of the total development cost of 8.8 trillion won (6.76 billion US dollars), in exchange for a number of aircraft to be produced in the country. domestically for the Indonesian Air Force, as well as technology transfer.
However, the specific amount will be decided depending on Jakarta's funding for its share, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
To note, the KF-21 fighter jet uses a variety of advanced technologies, including an active electronically scanned array radar that tracks multiple targets with more sophisticated and efficient components.
The aircraft also has an infrared search and tracking system that detects low-flying targets emitting infrared radiation, including anti-ship missiles.
Classified as a 4.5 generation fighter, the KF-21 Boramae will be equipped with air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-2000 by Germany-based Diehl and Meteor by Britain's MBDA. In addition, air-to-surface combat capabilities will be added during the second phase of the project from 2026 to 2028.
According to KAI, the first flight will last about 40 minutes, with the six prototypes set to conduct a combined 2,000 sorties in western and southern waters until 2026.
The company continued, the KF-21 will undergo a one-year "tentative" combat feasibility test this year, with the aim of achieving its final combat suitability by 2026 the main procedure of a phased development process.
Meanwhile, according to DAPA, mass production of domestically developed fighter jets is expected to last until 2032.
The arms procurement agency acknowledged that price competitiveness was a key consideration for the project.
"We are in talks with partner companies about prices and the final cost will be decided sooner or later," a DAPA official said.
"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war, the cost of raw materials has increased, but we are trying to prevent it from negatively affecting prices," he continued.
Along with the flight test plan, KAI successfully completed the ground test.
"The ground testing is aimed at checking the basic integrity and operation of the aircraft," Kim said.
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