Tuesday, March 28, 2023

KAI’s first prototype KF-X fighter to be rolled out by April 2021

Follow us on Follow Inceptive Mind on Google News

Korea Aerospace Industries, South Korean aerospace, and defense company started production of the front, the middle, and rear hull of KF-X domestic fighter jet. It has published an image of a partially assembled fuselage of the KF-X fighter prototype, which was assembled at the KAI’s aircraft factory in Sacheon. The company plans to roll out the first prototype next April and commence test flights in 2022.

KF-X fighter will be 16.9 meters long, 4.7 meters high, and have a wingspan of 11.2 meters. The maximum take-off mass of the fighter is 25,400 kg (55,997 lb). It will be able to fly at the speed of Mach 1.81 (2,235 km/h). The promising fighter will receive ten suspension points for missiles, bombs, and various sensors.

KF-X-fighter
KF-X-fighter

The performance of the KF-X fighter aircraft is expected to improve with each block. The first stage of the program includes the construction of six Block 0 prototypes, followed by four years of flight tests. The first version of the aircraft in the experimental phase is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

Then the first KF-X in the mass production line, which will be an extension of the KF-X Block 1 fighter model, should reach the skies between 2026 and 2028. Unlike the prototypes, these machines will be equipped with limited air-to-ground weapons to additional air-to-air weapons. Later on, the Block 2 models, whose production is expected to start from 2029, will have the capability to perform a full air-to-air and air-to-ground combat mission.

South Korea expects to deploy 120 of the aircraft into service by 2032. The project is intended to replace South Korea’s aging F-4D/E Phantom II and F-5E/F Tiger II aircraft.

New Discoveries

TRENDING