Six South Korean KF-16 Prototypes To Fly By 2021

South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Thursday that six prototypes of KF-16 indigenous fighter jet would be ready by 2021.

DAPA in a commencement meeting in the headquarters of contractor Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province for the fighter jet project held Thursday said that South Korea would be able to introduce the fighter in mid-2020s.

As per the plan, DAPA will complete the design of aircraft in 2019, unveil six units of the prototype KF-16-class warplane starting 2021 and conduct flight tests until 2026. A total of 120 planes will then be assembled by 2032, Korea Herald reported citing DAPA head Chang Myoung-jin as saying.

DAPA announced the launch of projects to introduce indigenous fighter jets in the mid-2020s, kick-starting the journey that has spawned much controversy following the US rejection to transfer key technologies.

Some 200 government and industry officials as well as military scientists also from partner countries of the US and Indonesia reviewed the program. 

“We will make utmost efforts to deploy in time superb fighter jets that our Air Force needs and people can be proud of,” Chang said.

DAPA also aims to increase the ratio of homegrown components to 65 percent in terms of prices by localizing some 90 items including active electronically scanned array radar and electro-optical targeting pods. 

The two systems are among the four technologies that Seoul has failed to secure from U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin Corp. due to Washington’s veto, darkening the outlook for the initiative’s success.

“For objective assessment and management of any risks that may arise while carrying out the program, we plan to consult closely with a parliamentary risk management subcommittee and Defense Ministry panel and other expert groups and minimize them,” the agency said in a statement.