국산 전투기 KF-21 '보라매'의 개발 현장에 직접 가보니
Korea Aerospace Industries or KAI is currently leading South Korea's air defense with its development of the homegrown KF-21, --the cutting-edge fighter jet.
Our defense correspondent Kim Yeon-seung went to the development site to check out why it's worth noticing.
It's fast, it's powerful, it's the new pride of South Korea's air force --the KF-21.
And the makers behind this cutting-edge jet?
"Welcome to Korea Aerospace Industries, developer of the nation’s state-of-the-art combat aircraft, like this KF 21 fighter you see behind me."
As one of the government's most ambitious defense initiatives, boasting a budget of 8.8 trillion Korean won or 6.6 billion U.S. dollars, the development of the KF-21 is a long-haul commitment.
The fighter jet is scheduled to undergo approximately 2,000 test flights by 2026 before it can officially grace production lines.
As of now, it's already aced around 200 of these test flights, including a crucial air-to-air dummy missile drop test earlier this year.
"As a test flight pilot, I always strive to be well-prepared, keeping in mind that any errors I make during a flight could have significant implications for this important national undertaking."
While the KF-21 is a 4.5-generation jet, implying it doesn't possess full stealth capabilities, it makes up for this with cutting-edge AESA radar and advanced avionics.
Korea Aerospace Industries' jet-building abilities are causing other countries to take notice.
In fact, Poland and Malaysia have already penned billion-dollar contracts with KAI to buy dozens of its FA-50 supersonic trainers, with deliveries of these jets expected in the upcoming years.
As demand heats up for KAI's aircraft, the company may soon be charting a course towards expanding its production sites.
Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News
#KF21 #Fighter_jet #Development #Development_Testing #Airforce #Combat_aircraft #공군 #전투기 #보라매 #개발 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스
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2023-05-10, 21:00 (KST)
