Latest news with #KF-21Boramae
Arab News
16-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
South Korea, UAE boost defense ties with training, fighter jet cooperation
Seoul: South Korea and the UAE are strengthening military ties through new agreements signed by their air force leadership on Wednesday, including cooperation in the development of the newest Korean supersonic fighter jet. Maj. Gen. Rashed Mohammed A. Al-Shamsi, commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense, arrived in Seoul on a four-day official visit on Monday. On Tuesday, he signed an agreement with South Korean Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Young-soo to establish regular bilateral meetings between their air forces, and on Wednesday, a letter of intent focused on cooperation related to the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. The KF-21 is a 4.5-generation supersonic aircraft developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and slated for official deployment in 2026. An Emirati pilot participated in its test flight during Al-Shamsi's visit, as the cooperation will also include training UAE personnel to operate the jet. 'The South Korea Air Force regularly participates in the Desert Flag and IAMDOC (Integrated Air Missile Defense Operations Course) exercises held in the UAE. Moving forward, we aim to further expand our cooperation and defense exchanges with the UAE,' Lee said in a statement after the meetings. He also reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to supporting the operations of the Cheongung II, a South Korean medium-range surface-to-air missile system purchased by the UAE in 2022. 'We will provide training programs for Emirati air defense personnel to ensure the successful operation of the missile system,' he said. The initiative to hold regular meetings with the UAE Air Force — Korea's first air force-to-air force regular talks with a Middle Eastern country — stems from Gen. Lee's visit to Abu Dhabi in March, during which both sides agreed on the need for closer military coordination. Under the new framework, the two countries will hold bilateral meetings every six months. Military cooperation between the UAE and South Korea started in 2006, when they signed a defense agreement. In 2011, at the request of Abu Dhabi, South Korea deployed its Akh Unit to a military base in Al-Ain to provide support in training the UAE special forces — an arrangement that continues to this day. 'It was the UAE that asked for Korea's deployment. It seems the UAE sees South Korea as a reliable partner in Asia when they seek to diversify their defense,' Kim Kang-seok, professor of Middle Eastern and African studies at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, told Arab News. 'The UAE is focused on advancing its military's AI capabilities and achieving defense self-reliance … The UAE has adopted AI initiatives as a key national strategy. That is also foraying into the military. This makes South Korea a very attractive partner because South Korea has a large AI capability, a growing military industry and a global economic standing.' Advancing military ties is also in line with the comprehensive economic partnership pact the two countries signed last year. It is also a part of the UAE's efforts to reduce reliance on the US for defense, as well as Seoul's geopolitical considerations, according to Ahn So-yeon from the West Asia Center at Seoul National University. 'They are considering South Korea to be a very good partner in Asia. Since South Korea is an ally of the US, the UAE feels less pressured by the US when cooperating with South Korea, compared to other Asian countries,' Ahn said. 'The UAE is a key oil producer in the Middle East. The UAE is a key energy supplier for South Korea and is strategically located near the Strait of Hormuz. Stationing troops there helps South Korea safeguard ships on key maritime trade routes.'
CBC
15-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
South Korea, with its 'cheaper' version of the F-35, watches as Canada reviews U.S. fighter deal
Social Sharing The reception hall at Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd. is, in many respects, every plane and helicopter lover's dream. Filled with model aircraft, there's one in particular that stands out. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for confusing it for the now politically infamous — at least in Canadian terms — F-35 fighter. The KF-21 Boramae (Hawk) has the same angled twin tails and similar sleek lines. When pointed out, a senior KAI manager sheepishly acknowledged the "stealthy design" resemblance. If all of the heated campaign rhetoric and trade war posturing is to be believed, Canada may be in the market for something other than the U.S.-manufactured F-35. We'll see. The Liberals have openly threatened to accept the first 16 aircraft on order and then look elsewhere to fill out the flight lines of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which for decades has coveted the Lockheed Martin-built jets. One of the reasons the air force has been in favour of the F-35 is because of its advanced capabilities, especially its sensors and connectivity. One of the reasons the politicians have balked is the enormous $19-billion price tag and the huge cost of ownership where the bulk of the in-service support would have to be done in the United States. South Korea, like Canada, wants advanced capability. But the country set out more than 15 years ago to design and build its own next-generation fighter, which coincidentally — or perhaps not — ended up looking like the F-35. There are important differences, namely the KF-21 has two engines, not one. And the Koreans have had trouble integrating one of the key stealth characteristics of carrying weapons — bombs and missiles — on the inside of the aircraft, as opposed to underneath or on the wings. Jason Ahn, KAI's senior manager for North America, said the design kinks have been worked out and the company now has six prototype planes. Most significantly, it has begun full production of the jets for the Korean Air Force and its junior development partner nation Indonesia. Since the Liberal government has signalled Canada may be ready to pivot away from the F-35, there's been considerable debate in the online aviation community about whether the KF-21 is a credible alternative. Opinions are mixed and the jury is still out as far as defence specialists are concerned. The KF-21 was developed as part of a $6.6 billion US project to replace South Korea's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighters, and it has been touted as a "cheaper" alternative. "KF-21 will be substantially cheaper than the fourth-generation, front-line fighters," Ahn said in a recent interview at the company's manufacturing plant in Sacheon, South Korea. "This aircraft has better maintainability designed in from the get-go, compared to other fifth-generation fighters [such as the F-35] … we believe we have more — or better — flexibility in terms of maintaining the aircraft." CBC News was given access to the aerospace plant in the southern part of the country and saw KF-21s in production and the prototypes. But South Korean security officials refused permission to independently shoot photographs or video of the advanced warplanes, insisting only company images could be used. Ahn said a number of countries had approached South Korea about buying the aircraft, but he wouldn't disclose who they might be. KAI did not take part in Canada's fighter jet competition, which ended up with the selection of the F-35 in 2022. Instead, it recently expressed interest in supplying Canada's requirement for training aircraft by offering its other homegrown design, the T-50 Golden Eagle. The company was eager to talk about that pitch and showcase the light aircraft, which had its debut in 2002. Hahn said one of the attractive features of that jet is that it could be re-rolled to become a light combat aircraft should Canada need to quickly expand the capability of its air force in an emergency. "The key word is versatile and the FA-50 is capable of not only the trainer side of the aircraft, but also the mission side of the aircraft. It is capable of conducting air-to-air missions with medium-range missiles and AESA radar, and also capable of air-to-ground attack missions with sniper targeting pods and Maverick missiles and all that." The company never received a reply to its proposal late last year and therefore it's unclear how it was received by the Defence Department, which has been consumed with the plan to introduce the F-35 and all of the associated infrastructure overhauls that go with it. Question of commitment to 'Made in Canada' Would either the KF-21 or the T/FA-50 be suitable alternatives if Canada's relationship with Washington deteriorates further? Within South Korea's defence establishment, there's deep skepticism about how serious either a re-elected Liberal government or a new Conservative government would be to diversify military purchases and trade. The apprehension may be justified. Talks between Canada and the U.S. on a renewed trade deal are expected to get underway in the first week of May. On Monday, as Liberal Leader Mark Carney underlined a recycled plan to create a Canadian defence procurement agency, he was asked whether his "Made in Canada" defence plan would be sacrificed for the broader objective of bringing an end to the trade war with the United States and securing access to the markets south of the border. He didn't answer the question directly. "When you go into negotiation, you have to know where you stand. You have to know what you want. You have to be strong. You have to be clear. That's why we're setting out these policies. They're in the interests of Canada," Carney said.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Amid setback, South Korea pushes forward on drones, loyal wingman
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Despite a recent accident with an Israeli-built drone, South Korea's military is pressing ahead ahead with unmanned technology, including a stealthy loyal wingman designed to accompany the air force's new KF-21 Boramae fighters. The accident occurred on March 17, when an IAI Heron-1 drone belonging to Korea's army veered off a runway upon landing at Yangju, subsequently colliding with a parked Surion helicopter. Both aircraft were written off, meaning the army has now lost all three of its Herons in accidents. Nonetheless, the country is under the gun to accelerate its drone plans – and for reasons outside immediate military-equipment considerations. Kim Jae Yeop, senior researcher at the Sungkyun Institute for Global Strategy in Seoul, told Defense News South Korea's low birth rate, amongst the lowest in the world, is looming large. 'The number of regular troops in the armed forces, which is now roughly 500,000, will highly likely decrease to fewer than 400,000 in the next decade,' he said. 'As a result,' Kim explained, 'Seoul is taking active measures to expand the role of military unmanned systems to offset the reduction in troops. They can be acquired at significant scale at a lower cost and without risk to life in missions.' One important program saw Korean Air roll out a new loyal wingman technology demonstrator – called the Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System, or LOWUS – on Feb. 25. The stealthy turbofan-powered LOWUS, funded by the Agency for Defense Development since 2021, was unveiled at the Korean Air Tech Center in Pusan. Its maiden flight is expected later this year, ahead of manned-unmanned teaming flight tests in 2027. Possessing an internal weapons bay and looking similar to the American XQ-58A Valkyrie, Korean Air lists a length of 10.4m and wingspan of 9.4m for the aicraft. As with similar loyal wingman concepts by other major powers, the idea for the drone sidekicks is fly missions ranging from strike to surveillance, jamming and escort. The LOWUS will likely have a domestic engine and active electronically scanned array radar. Korean Air gained experience with requisite stealth technologies when developing the blended-wing KUS-FC, or Kaori-X, drone that first flew in 2015. In the future, Korea's air force is expected to introduce composite squadrons of manned fighters and loyal wingmen. 'Considering the fact that only a small number of countries like the U.S., Australia and Russia have been producing and testing similar kinds of systems, the LOWUS highlights Seoul's technological achievements,' said Kim. Another program currently underway comprises a search for loitering munitions for Korean special forces units. A platform is due to be selected later this year, and Seoul is allocating around $22 million to this acquisition. Foreign types like the Switchblade 600 and Hero 120 are under consideration, with the aim being to give special forces strike drones they can use independently against North Korean invaders without the need for calling in external fire support.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
South Korea's Loyal Wingman Air Combat Drone Unveiled
South Korea today unveiled a new stealthy loyal wingman-type drone, the Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System, or LOWUS, which it plans to operate alongside the locally developed KF-21 Boramae next-generation fighter. The new drone is part of a growing fleet of low-observable drones being developed in South Korea as the country seeks to introduce new uncrewed technologies for a range of missions. The first prototype of the LOWUS was rolled out today at Korean Air's Busan Tech Center in the southeast of the country. The drone was developed by Korean Air together with the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), a government body responsible for research and development in defense technology, funded by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Check out LOWUS design in the video below: The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Korean Air held a rollout ceremony on the 25th at the Korean Air Tech Center in Busan for the first prototype of the "Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System (LOWUS)," a core platform of the manned-unmanned teaming unmanned… — kf21_military (@fa50_defense) February 25, 2025 The LOWUS program was launched in 2021, with the research and development phase. A first flight of the first prototype is reportedly planned for the end of this year, leading toward the first manned-unmanned teaming flight tests by 2027. These will involve a piloted aircraft directly controlling the drone in flight. The new drone is being developed from the outset for manned-unmanned teaming, in which it will operate with a significant degree of autonomously alongside crewed combat aircraft. It is expected to undertake missions including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike, in support of crewed fighters, including the KF-21. In terms of its design, the LOWUS has stealth features, including a reduced radar cross-section and a construction that makes use of radar-absorbent material (RAM). Superficially, the drone looks very similar to the XQ-58A Valkyrie, the stealthy, affordable uncrewed aircraft that has been developed by U.S. drone-maker Kratos. The LOWUS also has some visual similarities with the Airpower Teaming System loyal wingman drone, now known as the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, which was developed by Boeing's Australian subsidiary, initially for the Royal Australian Air Force. Previously, a drone design very similar to the LOWUS — if not identical — was presented by Korean Air in the form of an artist's rendering, seen below. Like the Valkyrie, the LOWUS features a stealthy trapezoidal fuselage, sharply swept main wings, a V-shaped tail, and an air intake located above the fuselage. Unlike the U.S. drone, the South Korean product features an electro-optical sensor in a turret below the nose. The powerplant of the LOWUS is not immediately obvious, although a domestically produced engine has been reported and the video released so far doesn't reveal details of the internal weapons bay. There are also suggestions that the drone can be fitted with a locally developed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. For some time now, we've known that South Korea was working on manned-unmanned teaming system. In October 2021 it was announced that Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), which is leading the KF-21 program, had won a $3.4-million contract from DAPA to rapidly develop technology of this kind, although it's not immediately clear if this is related to the LOWUS program or a separate effort. However, the KAI initiative was apparently aimed, at least initially, to allow drones to support joint operations involving South Korean battlefield helicopters, such as the Surion and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH). Previously, we had predicted that these same technologies could later be adapted for future integration of the KF-21 and drones, which may well be what's happening now. Having a stealth drone available as a loyal wingman for the KF-21 would make a lot of sense, especially since the initial iteration of the fighters lacks the high-end stealth attributes of the F-35, for example, which is also operated by the ROKAF. The KF-21, at least in its initial form, will carry all its disposable armament externally and not in internal weapons bays. Furthermore, the KF-21 will initially be fielded in the air-to-air-only Block 1 variant, making a drone like the LOWUS, capable of carrying air-to-ground munitions, much more useful as an adjunct to the crewed fighter. This would allow the drone to prosecute ground targets that have been identified by the KF-21, for example. Only with the subsequent Block 2 version will the KF-21 gain an air-to-ground capability. As TWZ wrote in the past: 'More generally, a stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV)carrying internal weapons would be an enormous advantage to the KF-21 Block 1 or Block 2 when penetrating heavily contested airspace. This would allow the manned fighter to remain at a safer standoff distance and use its highly capable Meteor missiles and AESA radar and infrared search and track (IRST) to pick off aerial targets. This could be done perhaps by targeting data received from the UCAV's own sensors without the need to use the KF-21's onboard radar at all. This concept is increasingly attractive as it could allow manned fighters to remain largely electromagnetically silent, increasing their survivability, with the drone taking on the higher-risk role as a forward sensing platform.' South Korea is developing the KF-21 to replace the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) now-retired F-4E Phantom II and still-active F-5E/F Tiger II fighters. Currently, it's planned for the ROKAF to introduce 40 KF-21s by 2028 and have a full fleet of 120 aircraft deployed by 2032. For the manned-unmanned teaming component of the KF-21's operations, it's likely that the ROKAF will make specific use of the two-seat variant. With accommodation for an additional crewmember, this would make it ideal for the 'loyal wingman' drone-controller mission, reflecting the same approach pursued by China, where a two-seat J-20 stealth fighter apparently intended for this mission has been developed. Of course, the LOWUS could also find practical applications beyond the KF-21, including in support of the FA-50 light combat aircraft, providing it these relatively cheap fighters with a much higher degree of survivability. Although based on an advanced jet trainer, the FA-50 is a potent combat platform in its own right, with a multimode radar and precision-guided weapons, including the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile and GBU-38/B Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). It also has twin seats, making it suitable for a drone-controller role. The FA-50 has already found export success and the option of offering for sale with a complementary loyal wingman drone could make it even more attractive, provided that Seoul releases these technologies for sale to foreign customers. Even without the FA-50, or the KF-21, for that matter, the LOWUS could be a compelling export prospect. South Korea is an increasingly major player on the global arms market and a loyal wingman that could be integrated with a range of other combat aircraft would be a unique selling point. As regards Seoul's stealthy drone programs, we know of previous efforts, most of which have focused on tailless flying-wing designs. For some years now, Korean Air has been working on a stealthy UCAV under the KUS-FC program. A subscale demonstrator, the Kaori-X, began flight testing in 2015. This demonstrator has reportedly been used to test low observability, aerodynamic control and stability, and propulsion concepts. In September 2021, the ADD announced that it had mastered critical technologies to allow the production of full-size stealthy UCAVs, the result of a project launched in 2016. In particular, the agency pointed to the development of aerial structures, including RAM, plus flight control algorithms that would help reduce a drone's radar cross-section. The ADD also described these features being incorporated in a tailless unmanned aerial vehicle. Reports suggest that this effort was separate from but complementary to the KUS-FC program. Meanwhile, in September 2023, another — much smaller — stealthy-shaped flying wing drone appeared in a military parade in Seoul. Five of these uncrewed aircraft were included in the procession, each mounted on top of a 4×4 light utility vehicle, although the drones' tricycle landing gear indicates they are intended to take off and land from traditional runways. Although broadly similar in layout to the Kaori-X, the new drones features a 'cranked kite' wing configuration, similar to what is seen on the X-47B. Overall, drones are very much an area of interest for the South Korean military, which announced the creation of a dedicated drone operations command in September 2023. 'The command will mainly utilize the unmanned assets to carry out defensive and offensive operations and deter various asymmetric threats posed by the enemy, including drones, nuclear weapons, and other weapons of mass destruction during a contingency,' South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) explained at the time, according to a report from South Korean media outlet Yonhap. 'It is also tasked with conducting surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike operations, as well as psychological warfare and electromagnetic warfare at a strategic and operational level.' Already, the KF-21 is gaining much interest on account of its rapid development timeline and its innovative approach to fielding a new-generation fighter, with certain design compromises having been taken to ease its path into service. With today's rollout of the Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System drone, another part of the KF-21's intriguing concept of operations has emerged. Contact the author: thomas@
