Page 6 - ADT SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 Online Magazine

Powering Up [ COVER STORY ]

THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AIR FORCE IS ON craft based in the country and in the region, due
SCHEDULE TO REVAMP ITS COMBAT CAPABILITY to the ROKAF’s warfighting doctrine which is
premised upon combined ROK-US operations.

Atul Chandra Indigenous Champion
Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) rolled out
The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) is comfortably placed the first KF-21 prototype in April and ground
with its modernisation plans on the back of sustained Government tests are now underway. First flight is planned
funding and support, which has allowed the air arm to induct some for 2022 with programme design, development
of the most advanced warfighting technologies in the region. The and testing slated for completion by June 2026.
ROKAF will benefit from a strong indigenous boost to its combat The 8.8 trillion won ($7.8 billion) KF-21 pro-
capability, with the slated delivery of 120 KF-21 ‘Boramae’ 4.5 gramme features Indonesia as an R&D partner,
generation fighter jets by 2032. The KF-21 will operate in close sharing 20% of the research costs worth ($1.3
cooperation with ROKAF F-15Ks and F-35As as also USAF air- billion). With Korea already having mastered
the development of basic trainers, jet train-
ers and helicopters, the development of an
advanced fighter jet, will be a major milestone
in the nation’s aviation history. Korean industry
has a significant role in the KF-21 programme.
Hanwha Systems is developing the KF-21’s
Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
radar, Electro-Optical Targeting Pod (EO TGP)
and Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) system
along with the large primary cockpit display.
The KF-21’s Electronic Warfare (EW) suite
and state-of-the embedded training system
will come from LIG Nex1. Hanwha Aerospace

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