[Exclusive] KF-21 Bora Mae production to be reduced…’20 + 20 for armed test conditions’

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As the feasibility study suggesting that the initial production volume of the Korean fighter jet KF-21 Boramae should be reduced from 40 to 20 units has sparked controversy, it was confirmed on the 7th that a plan is underway to start production of 20 units and then produce an additional 20 units upon successful armament testing. President Yoon Seok-yeol is giving a speech with the KF-21 in the background at the opening ceremony of the Seoul ADEX 2023 held at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 17th of last month. [Yonhap]

[Herald Economy = Reporter Shin Daewon] As the feasibility study suggesting that the initial production volume of the Korean fighter jet KF-21 Boramae should be reduced from 40 to 20 units has sparked controversy, the government has begun to seek a compromise.

It is interpreted that the government has stepped in to remedy the situation as concerns arose when the Korea Defense Research Institute’s (KIDA) feasibility study preliminarily concluded that the initial 40 units planned to be secured through initial production after the mass production contract is signed next year should be reduced to 20 units.

A government official said on the 7th, “I understand that the wording of the KIDA feasibility report is being coordinated,” and added, “We can proceed with the initial production of 20 units first and then add 20 units to secure a total of 40 units based on the future armament test results.”

This official further added, “Although it’s conditional, defense companies should be able to proceed with the project based on the original plan of 40 units.”

In other words, the plan is to start with the initial production of 20 units and then proceed with the additional production of 20 units upon successful armament testing.

It was also reported that the preliminary conclusion of KIDA, which is known to include the content that the possibility of success of the KF-21 project is uncertain and the technical completeness has not yet matured, will be softened.

A source familiar with the KF-21 project said, “KIDA is also devising a plan to prevent an increase in the unit price of the KF-21 and delays in power generation,” and added, “We are looking for a way to check the overall foreseeable risks of the project without causing disruption to the overall project.”

Ultimately, the key to initial production is expected to be the integration of the armament system of the KF-21, which is currently undergoing testing.

The KF-21 Block I project is focusing on basic flight performance and air-to-air combat capability.

Currently, the KF-21 has successfully completed the mid-range air-to-air missile Meteor armament separation test and air gun firing test in March, and the short-range air-to-air missile AIM-2000 armament separation test in April.

The KF-21 is scheduled to conduct an armament test to hit a target in the air in the future.

Meanwhile, concerns have continued as the preliminary conclusion of KIDA’s feasibility study of the KF-21 project suggested that the initial production volume should be reduced by half from 40 units to 20 units.

It was pointed out that the inevitable power vacuum in the Air Force due to the retirement of the F-4 and F-5 series fighter jets, which are already struggling to secure even the appropriate number of fighter jets, would have a negative impact on the defense industry as a whole, including the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the system integrator, Hanwha Systems, LIG Nex1, and over 500 partner companies, due to additional costs and idle manpower.

There was also criticism that if the initial production volume is halved, the price per unit of the KF-21, which was originally expected to be in the 80 billion won range, would skyrocket to over 100 billion won, inevitably losing competitiveness in the overseas market in addition to the burden of development costs.

As the feasibility study suggesting that the initial production volume of the Korean fighter jet KF-21 Boramae should be reduced from 40 to 20 units has sparked controversy, it was confirmed on the 7th that a plan is underway to start production of 20 units and then produce an additional 20 units upon successful armament testing. The KF-21 was on display at the outdoor exhibition hall of the Seoul ADEX 2023, which was held at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 17th of last month. [Yonhap]