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| KF-21 Boramae /KAI |
International Military - It was previously known that South Korea alias South Korea is currently in the project of making the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. South Korea has long started the project to manufacture the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, which was originally known as the KF-X. Not alone, South Korea invited several potential countries to join in making the KF-21 Boramae.
Indonesia and Turkey are two countries that have the potential to join South Korea to make the KF-21 Boramae. If Indonesia continues and agrees to take part in making the KF-21 Boramae, it will be different with Turkey. Turkey apparently did not participate in developing the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet.
Indonesia will automatically become South Korea's sole partner in making the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. Indonesia's participation in making the KF-21 Boramae brings many advantages for both. For South Korea, it is clear that Seoul's costs will be lighter, because Indonesia also pays 20 percent of the amount.
And for Indonesia, there are at least two clearly visible advantages, namely that Indonesia can strengthen the Indonesian Air Force with the KF-21 Boramae. Indonesia can also gain knowledge in terms of making fighter jets, especially the KF-21 Boramae. Indonesia and South Korea have gone through a long journey in developing the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet.
Until last April 2021, the official presentation of the KF-21 Boramae to the public was carried out. This is a precious moment, from the long history of development of the KF-21 Boramae. Over time, the KF-21 Boramae was intended to use the US-made AESA radar.
However, the US does not want its AESA radar to be used on the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. But South Korea managed to turn this misfortune into something to be proud of.
South Korea cooperated with a local company, namely Hanwha Systems to make its own AESA radar. It only took 4 years for the AESA radar prototype developed by Hanwha Systems to appear to the public. “Korea did not get into the development of the AESA radar in the first place. The US refusal to transfer technology when it started the KF-21 project was disappointing.
Despite some concerns that it would be an unreasonable challenge, the Defense Science Research Institute (ADD) and Hanwha Systems released the first prototype AESA radar in August 2020, just four years after they began development." wrote JTBC, April 10, 2022. The report also said that South Korea became the 12th country to successfully develop a local AESA radar.
It turns out that apart from placing the AESA radar for use on the KF-21 Boramae, South Korea is also doing other things. South Korea is ready to deploy the AESA radar for use in the Navy's military program. In a report shared by Naval News, it is stated that the AESA radar used by the KF-21 Boramae is also ready to stop at South Korean warships.
The next FFX-class Ulsan frigate, the FFX Batch III, will use the AESA radar on the KF-21 Boramae. “The AESA radar will be deployed on the next Ulsan-class frigate (FFX Batch III), the first of which will be delivered to the ROK Navy in 2024.” explained Naval News.
The presence of the AESA radar on the Ulsan class frigate will definitely increase its capabilities. “The new radar by Hanwha Systems will improve anti-air and anti-ship operations. ability. The Ulsan-class FFX Batch III will weigh 4,000 tonnes, meaning that the new FFX will be on par with the Gwanggaeto the Great (also known as KDX I) class destroyers in terms of firepower and defensive capabilities.” he added.
In addition to the FFX, the next generation Korean destroyer known as the KDDX will also have an AESA radar by Hanwha System.