Page 30 - ADT SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 Online Magazine

part of its fleet and six more on the way. The country’s T-50s have of understanding with Babcock International
been enhanced to have light attack capabilities. to work together to design and build the new
CVX, the country’s light aircraft carrier.

All Eyes on KF-21 "THIS PARTNERSHIP IS TO COLLATE [ REPORT ]
South Korea expects its defence exports to receive a significant
boost when the KF-21 Boramae/Fighting Hawk, South Korea’s THE CORE TECHNOLOGIES OF THE
homegrown supersonic jet fighter, enters mass production and TWO COMPANIES TO WIN AN
becomes available for sale to other countries. A joint project involv- ORDER FOR THE BASIC DESIGN OF
ing South Korea and Indonesia, with Seoul holding 80% of shares A LIGHT AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND
and Jakarta 20%, the prototype of the KF-21 was unveiled in April
this year and has its inaugural flight slated for 2022. The jet will TO BUILD A SHIP. HYUNDAI HEAVY
replace South Korea's F-4 and F-5 fighters and could eventually INDUSTRIES AND BABCOCK HAD
also push the air force’s fourth-generation F-16s and F-15Ks out of SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE
service. For its 20% stake in the project, Indonesia is expected to CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, THE FIRST
receive 50 aircraft of the type and also benefit from technology
transfer. STAGE OF SHIP DESIGN, LAST
YEAR," Hyundai said in a statement.
With a maximum payload of 7,700 kilograms, the KF-21 will have
10 pods for air-to-air missiles and other weapons and is designed Korea Aerospace Industries is reportedly
to be capable of flying at 2,200 kph , even faster than the F-35, considering partnering with foreign aircraft
Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation fighter, with a flying range of manufacturers such as Brazil’s Embraer,
2,900 km. Dubbed a 4.5-generation fighter, the KF-21 plane lacks Ukraine’s Antonov or Airbus Defence and
Space, to build a military transport plane. In
May this year, KAI released a short promo video
of the proposed design for the multi-mission
aircraft that is being designed to haul cargo,
carry missiles, launch rockets into space, and
refuel other aircraft. According to company offi-
cials, there is a sizable market, both at home
and overseas, for the aircraft that is expected
to be built in seven years with an investment
of about US$2.7 billion.

In April, the country’s Defense Acquisition
Program Administration (DAPA) announced
that it was keen on developing an indigenous
attack helicopter for the Marine Corps by 2031.
The aircraft, which is expected to be based on
a MUH-1 Marineon - the Marine variant of the
country's KUH-1 Surion helicopter - is likely to
be promoted heavily in the international market.
the stealth qualities of a fifth-generation aircraft but has significant
export potential because it will be priced significantly lower than Hurdles Remain
the F-35 and will be more readily available to militaries. The coun- Even though the biggest obstacle to South
try’s growing military ties with the US is also expected to help the Korea’s continued growth as an arms exporter
country maximise the export potential of the fighter jet. will continue to be the dominance of western
defence firms in the international market,
there are other factors that could slow down
Partnering for Success growth. Compared to companies in China and
Joining hands with international partners on major projects form a Russia that can sell arms to any country they
key component of South Korea’s plan to enhance its defence capa- wish; strategic reasons limit the client range of

bilities and scout for new export opportunities. In March this year, countries that South Korea can export arms to.
the country began discussions with the UK about collaborating on With North American and European defence
aircraft carrier technologies. Work on the Republic of Korea Navy's contractors holding sway over their home turf,
(RoKN's) future next–generation light aircraft carrier is expected to Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East and

officially start next year and be completed by 2033. In September, South America will continue to remain key mar-
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) this week signed a memorandum kets for South Korea’s defence contractors.

30 | September / October 2021 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT