The development of Korea's advanced multirole fighter KF-X/IF-X kicked off. The six prototypes of KF-X are set to be released by 2021, according to the Korea Aerospace Industries on Thursday.
According to the KAI, the organization plans to complete the design on KF-X by September of 2019 and release six prototypes by 2012 to make them undergo test flights for the following four years.
After compensating the defects, it aims to complete the development by June of 2026.
From June of 2026 to 2032, it plans to mass produce 120 units of KF-X to allocate them in the air force. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration and KAI are also aiming to export KF-X.
The DAPA said it plans to localize 90 key parts including AESA, MC and EO TGP to make 65 percent of the fighters localized.
Further, the task force for AESA will be set up at the Agency for Defense Development to develop AESA radar and the relevant technologies which the U.S. turned down transferring technologies.
The DAPA said it would complete to develop the fighters within the scheduled time frame through risk and performance management by setting up working-level group together with Air Force, ADD and KAI.