The KAI KF-X is a South Korean aircraft project for a fifth generation fighter with stealth capabilities; much resembling the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. It was unveiled at the Air Force Academy in March 2001, by the South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung.
Description[]
Not many details are known about the KF-X except that it will be a twin engine, stealthy, multirole fighter and that it will carry its weapons internally. It is expected to replace the aging F-4 Phantom II and the Northtrop F-5.
Two variants are currently developed:
- KF-X-101: Similar to the F-35 Lightning II, but with two engines
- KF-X-202: Similar to the Eurofighter Typhoon but with two vertical stabilizers
It is more likely that the KF-X-101 will be built because it has many similarities to the American F-35 Lightning II and it gets help by the American company Boeing.
The first flight and testing is planned to take place in 2016-2017. It should be operational in the 2020-2050 timeframe. ADD began also deciding which engine should be used on the aircraft:
- General Electric F414
- EUROJET Turbo Gmbh EJ2X0
- SNECMA M88 from the Dassault Rafale
Armament[]
- M61 Vulcan
- AIM-9X Sidewinder or own development
- AIM-120 AMRAAM or own development
- Small Diameter Bomb or own development
- AGM-169 JCM or own development
- SSM-760K Haeseong anti-ship missile
- Boramae Air Launched Cruise Missile or Taurus cruise missile
- Supersonic Air Launched Cruise Missile