Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) does not seem to be playing around in
developing the KF-21 Boramae fighter.
Ahead of the inaugural flight in June 2022, the KF-21 Boramae has now
captivated many countries.
The first prototype was built under the KF-X program, as it was originally
called, in April 2021.
Furthermore, the fighter was given the name KF-21 Boramae. This fighter
aircraft is a joint project of South Korea and Indonesia.
The KF-21 Boramae fighter project cost $5.2 billion, with Indonesia
contributing as much as 20%.
The KF-21 is a twin-engine supersonic aircraft with a length of 13, a height
of 4.5 and a wingspan of 14 meters.
It is planned to build 40 aircraft by 2028 and 120 by 2032.
Prior to serial production, 6 prototypes will be built, three by 2022. The
Republic of Korea component in the KF-21 component is about 65%.
Korean Aerospace Industries does not consider the KF-21 a 5th generation
fighter.
After all, the fighter will carry weapons not in the inner compartment, but
in the external suspension.
Indonesia withdrew its engineers in 2020, citing problems with COVID-19.
But then there was growing speculation that Jakarta was trying to halt the
joint fighter development project and buy another fighter jet.
However, in August 2021, around 32 Indonesian engineers began administrative
procedures to return to Korea Aerospace Industries.
Starting with these 32 engineers, around 100 employees will return to the
plant in South Korea at the end of last year after Indonesia reaffirms its
commitment to the project.
The latest news is that KAI is currently building a two-seater version of
the KF-21 Boramae. This was confirmed by members of the South Korean
military.
At KAI's factory in Sachkhon, demonstrates the process of assembling a
flight prototype of the promising KF-21 Boramae multifunction fighter.
Judging by the photo, the fourth prototype was made in a dual version and is
under construction.
As if the days were just a few days away, the KF-21 Boramae will soon make
its maiden flight.
The year 2022 itself is the long-awaited time for the KF-21 Boramae to fly
for the first time.
Quoted from Newsdirectory3, after the engine operation test in February
2022, the KF-21 Boramae runway high-speed driving test is scheduled for
March 2022.
The test pilots were selected from among 17 pilots from the Air Force's 52nd
Test and Evaluation Squadron.
Announced on January 24, 2022, the first flight test of the KF-21 Boramae,
the 4.5th generation advanced supersonic fighter, is scheduled for the
second week of June.
The pilots who will board the KF-21 Boramae and lead test flights will soon
be selected from the 17 test and evaluation pilots produced by the Air
Force's 52nd Test and Evaluation Squadron until last year.
"The initial flight of the KF-21 was originally scheduled for July, but the
assembly process and preparation for flight tests were smooth, so we decided
to secure the maximum amount of time for test flights," he said.
"I understand that the schedule is set for the second week of June, when
Memorial Day (June 6) falls," the military source explained.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to start testing engine operation
from February, and if the engines, instrument panels and devices are
functioning normally, the fighter jets will start running high-speed ground
tests starting in the spring.
