KAI targets overseas buyers seeking a lower-cost 4.5-generation fighter and advances manned-unmanned teaming with UCAVs and an AI pilot
The first mass-produced KF-21 unit is unveiled at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, on March 25. (Photo courtesy of KAI)
The KF-21 Boramae, the long-awaited dream of South Korea’s aerospace and defense industry, is finally entering the mass production phase and preparing for a new leap. This is the culmination of a roughly 26-year struggle by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).
With this achievement, South Korea has joined the ranks of the world’s eighth nation to independently develop a supersonic fighter jet, following countries like the United States, China, and Russia.
The KF-21 will enter full-scale mass production starting this year. Beginning in the second half of the year, it is scheduled to be delivered to the Air Force to sequentially replace aging aircraft. The share of KAI’s total revenue from the KF-21 is also projected to grow incrementally from 11.2% in 2026 to 29.8% in 2028, establishing it as a core revenue source for the company.
According to industry sources on April 2, the KF-21 is rapidly emerging as an optimal 4.5-generation alternative for countries burdened by the high price and strict political conditions for acquiring advanced 5th-generation stealth fighters.
The true value of the KF-21 is expected to be proven beyond the domestic market in the global export arena. In particular, the so-called ‘regular K-defense customers,’ who have previously purchased the T-50 trainer or FA-50 light combat aircraft, are considered the most promising potential customers.
Based on countries with existing export references from KAI, such as Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, the potential demand is estimated to be around 130 to 160 units.
Countries with export references refer to those that have experience in acquiring KAI’s T-50 trainer or FA-50 light combat aircraft.
When new markets that have not previously acquired South Korean weapons are included, the total potential export demand for the KF-21 is estimated to be up to approximately 700 units, with a potential market size reaching up to about 70 trillion won.
KAI has identified Indonesia as the top priority market for KF-21 exports. “As the KF-21 is a project invested in and co-developed with Indonesia, there is a high probability that Indonesia will be the first export destination,” said a KAI official.
The official added, “Countries that have previously introduced and operated South Korean aircraft like the T-50 series already have the advantages and operational experience, so Middle Eastern or African nations could also be strong export candidates.”
The paradigm of modern air combat is now shifting from one-on-one fighter performance duels to ‘Manned-Unmanned Teaming’ (MUM-T), where manned and unmanned aircraft team up.
The reason the defense industry is staking its survival on this technology is clear. First, it can maximize pilot survivability. By first deploying unmanned aircraft into high-risk areas to disrupt enemy air defenses or identify targets, damage to manned aircraft can be minimized.
The ever-soaring price of manned fighter jets is also cited as a primary reason for adopting unmanned aircraft. The price of a 4.5-generation or 5th-generation fighter jet reaches about $100 million. The cost of the subsequent 6th-generation fighters is known to be more than double that of the 5th generation.
In this situation, the analysis is that operating a large number of unmanned aircraft, which cost about one-third the price of manned aircraft, is far more rational in terms of defense budget efficiency. Unmanned aircraft also have the advantage of being faster to produce and easier to replace if lost, enabling an overwhelming numerical advantage in a prolonged war.
Domestic unmanned aircraft development is currently accelerating, with KAI and Korean Air forming the two main pillars. Since 2021, KAI has been leading the development of a system linking helicopters and unmanned aircraft, laying the groundwork for manned-unmanned teaming technology. KAI is preparing for manned-unmanned teaming by independently developing an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) pilot is considered a core technology for UCAVs. KAI is developing, training, and advancing its AI pilot, named ‘KAILOT’.
“In a manned-unmanned teaming system, the AI pilot is what determines the completeness of the combat system,” the KAI official explained. “Through continuous data learning, the AI is progressively advanced and will serve as the brain that assesses combat situations and even formulates tactics.”
Aside from the UCAV that KAI is developing in-house, the low-observable unmanned wingman ‘LOWUS’, under development by Korean Air, is being mentioned as a potential unmanned partner for the KF-21. Prototypes 1 and 2 of LOWUS are scheduled for production in 2025. The plan is to verify its manned-unmanned teaming operational capabilities through flight demonstrations by 2027.
The government and industry, including the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), expect to complete technology demonstrations by 2028 and then begin full-scale system advancement. A complete manned-unmanned teaming combat system, where the KF-21 commands multiple unmanned aircraft to conduct operations, is predicted to be completed around 2040.
Jung Suk-yee
댓글
0