Stealth fighter is no problem: 3 anti-stealth capabilities of the KF-21 Bora Bora!!!

Starting from next year, 2024, the KF-21 Boramae Block 1 will enter full-scale mass production. Although the issue of Indonesia’s delay in paying development shares remains unresolved, analysts say the development of the KF-21 Boramae is proceeding smoothly regardless of this.

Among the data collected in the past, I will try to summarize as briefly as possible how the 4.5th generation fighter KF-21 Boramae can respond to 5th generation stealth fighters. I hope this will help you understand the KF-21 Boramae, which will protect the airspace of the Republic of Korea.

First ability. South Korea’s outstanding electronic warfare capability, which is in no way inferior to Western Europe

Stealth fighters like the American F-35 or Chinese J-20 maintain radio silence while maneuvering to maximize their stealth capabilities. Instead, they receive necessary battlefield situations through a data link from an early warning aircraft located behind them. An electronic warfare system can disrupt this data link with powerful jamming, forcing the stealth aircraft to operate its own AESA radar and sensors. This means it can’t maintain radio silence.

Of course, the F-35A ‘s advanced stealth fighter’s AESA radar has a low probability of being detected by the fighter’s radar warning receiver (RWR) by mixing in radio waves of different frequencies or frequency hopping, thanks to its low probability of intercept (LPI) capability. However, a high-performance electronic warfare system can detect even these low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) radar waves and determine their origin, supporting the attack of friendly interceptors.

When electronic warfare is involved, it is likely to come down to a short-range missile duel, and the F-35‘s greatest advantage, the tactic of “shooting from a distance while invisible” , cannot be used. In a close combat situation where you have to fight with your eyes, a fighter with good maneuverability and more air-to-air missiles mounted is overwhelmingly advantageous. In fact, in March 2019, the overseas military journal The Aviation geek Club detailed how the U.S. Navy’s electronic warfare system EA-18G Growler was able to shoot down the F-22 Raptor.

The F-22 that was having a mock air battle with the EA-18G Growler fired an AIM-120 Amraam first after securing a good position. However, the powerful electronic warfare pod of the Growler rendered the Amraam’s radar seeker useless, and while the F-22 pilot was flustered, the quickly approaching Growler forced a close air combat, and the AIM-120 Amraam fired by the Growler resulted in the F-22 being shot down. As a result, the appearance of a powerful electronic warfare aircraft with electronic warfare capabilities like the EA-18G Growler suggests that the KF-21 Boramae could be a strong threat to China’s 5th generation fighter J-20.

Electronic warfare aircraft are divided into escort jammers, like the EA-18G Growler, which are modified from existing fighters, and stand-off jammers, which are modified from medium and large transport aircraft or business jets. Currently, the Korean Air Force is conducting a project to introduce stand-off electronic warfare aircraft modified from business jets. In addition, I would like to inform you that the Defense Science Research Institute has developed a “smart multi-beam high-power transmitter,” which is a domestic application of the new technology applied to the ALQ-279 NGJ electronic warfare pod being developed for the EA-18G Growler. In other words, we can look forward to the appearance of an KF-21 Boramae electronic warfare aircraft in the form of an escort jammer like the EA-18G Growler.

Second ability. Unique attack capability of the Meteor, which is impossible for the Amraam. Is it a reversal?

The biggest difference between the AIM-120 Amraam developed by the United States and the Meteor missile developed by European MBDA is in their propulsion systems. In the case of the AIM-120C Amraam, the rocket thrust lasts for 20~30