[Exclusive] First Mass-Produced Korean Fighter Jet KF-21 to Be Unveiled on the 25th This Month
Herald Economy | Naver
1–2 minutes
KF-21 Boramae scheduled for operational deployment in the second half of this year
KAI expected to appoint Kim Jong-chul as president at shareholders’ meeting on the 18th
[Herald Economy = Reporter Yoon Ho] — The first mass-produced
KF-21 Boramae, South Korea’s domestically developed fighter jet designed to defend the country’s airspace, will be unveiled to the public for the first time on the
25th of this month.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is reportedly planning to hold a
shareholders’ meeting on the 18th ahead of the rollout ceremony, where
Kim Jong-chul is expected to be elected as the company’s new president.
According to multiple military sources and defense industry officials on the
6th, KAI will hold the
rollout ceremony for the first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae on the
25th at its headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province.
The
Boramae project, which aims to develop a
4.5-generation supersonic fighter jet using domestic technology, is a joint international research and development program between
South Korea and Indonesia. The project runs from
2015 to 2028 with a total investment of
8.1 trillion won, aiming to replace aging
F-4 and F-5 fighter jets in the South Korean Air Force.
After the design was finalized in
2019 and final assembly began in
September 2020, the
first prototype was rolled out in April 2021. The name
KF-21 Boramae was selected through a public naming contest.
Development costs are now expected to decrease from the originally planned
8.1 trillion won to about 7.6 trillion won due to cost-saving measures.
The
first mass-produced KF-21, along with subsequent production aircraft, is scheduled to be
delivered to the Air Force and deployed operationally starting in the second half of this year.
The
KF-21 has already attracted significant interest in the
global defense market, thanks to its strong technological capabilities and competitive pricing. The
Block I production contract price is reportedly around
120 billion won per aircraft, roughly
half the cost of comparable fighter jets, which are typically priced at about
200 billion won per aircraft.
In the
Block III (KF-21EX) phase, the aircraft is expected to feature
enhanced stealth capabilities, including an
internal weapons bay, improved sensors, and
manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.
Meanwhile, KAI’s
eight-month leadership vacancy is also expected to be resolved soon. Last month, the company nominated
Kim Jong-chul, former Director General of the Defense Technology Protection Bureau at the
Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), as its new CEO.
The appointment is expected to be finalized through the
shareholders’ meeting and board meeting on the 18th.
Kim is a
graduate of the Air Force Academy (Class 31) and was specially recruited as a
Grade-4 official when DAPA was established in
2006. He previously served as
Head of the Defense Export Support Team,
Director of Offset Trade,
Director of Planning and Coordination, and
Director General of the Defense Technology Protection Bureau.
KF-21 보라매 올해 하반기 실전배치 계획 KAI 18일 주주총회 김종출 사장 선출할 듯 조립 중인 KF-21 최초양산 1호기. [방사청 제공] [헤럴드경제=윤호 기자] 국내 개발 생산돼 대한민국 영공을 수호할 한
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