For the first time, Korea Aerospace Industries or KAI has unveiled the first prototype of the next-generation KF-X fighter jet.
South Korean aerospace giant KAI is progressing with the continued development of a fighter aircraft development program with the goal of producing an advanced multirole fighter for the country air forces.
The company has recently passed a major milestone marks the beginning of the final assembly process of the first fighter, where electronics, radar, and various other subsystems will be installed until the aircraft is officially rolled out in April 2021.
The prototype is under construction with expected to be completed by mid-2021. The first test flight is anticipated in 2022, with manufacturing scheduled to begin in 2026. South Korea expects to deploy 120 of the aircraft into service by 2032.
The prototype is under construction with expected to be completed by mid-2021. The first test flight is anticipated in 2022, with manufacturing scheduled to begin in 2026. South Korea expects to deploy 120 of the aircraft into service by 2032.
A total of 6 prototypes will be built to undergo testing until the production model KF-X enters service in 2026.
KF-X is a 4.5th gen fighter with a future plan for 5th gen conversion. It already has space allocated for Internal Weapons Bay and the software development reflects this.
South Korea began assembling a prototype of what would be the country’s first indigenously developed fighter jet Thursday. pic.twitter.com/ExvZOxRrPA
— Ryan Chan 陳家翹 (@ryankakiuchan) September 3, 2020