By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
South Korea is surging ahead with its first indigenously constructed stealth fighter jet called the KAI KF-21 Borame, a 5th-generation aircraft likely to support and network with the countries’ F-35 force. The effort is a collaborative venture between South Korea and Indonesia which picks up 20-percent of the developmental costs.
This KAI KF-21 Borame, a fighter jet formerly called KAI KF-X, first took to the sky in 2022. The aircraft is reported to be stealth but reportedly lacks a 5th-generation-like internal weapons bay. The prototype Borame’s speed is listed on spec sheets at Mach 1.8, something considerably slower than an F-22 but slightly faster than the 1.6 Mach speeds listed for the F-35.
A write up in Aero Corner says the KF-21 “measures 55 feet 5 inches, will be able to reach Mach 1.81 via 2×Hanwha Techwin General Electric F414-KI afterburning turbofans, and will carry Taurus KEPD 350 air-to-ground missiles and MBDA Meteor, IRIS-T, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.”
Much like Japan’s Mitsubish F-X to an extent, the KF-21 looks like a blend between the F-22 and F-35. It has two engines like an F-22, yet its main fuselage and vertical tail wings look very similar to the F-35. Other attributes of the KF-21 include expected modern radar systems such as an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), mission computer and high-tech multi-function digital display. AESA radar is quite significant as it can track multiple threats at one time and deliver a targeting return “rendering” for pilot crews to attack enemy targets.
KF-21 Stop China? Network with F-35?
The existence of this aircraft, which could clearly contribute in a significant way to collective efforts to deter China, introduces a number of key questions and a host of unclear variables. Initially, one might wonder about South Korea’s industrial infrastructure and commensurate ability to manufacture a sizeable fleet of new 5th-gen aircraft. Secondly, should there be a robust fleet, it seems if would be critical to ensure it can successfully network with the F-35, as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia all operate F-35s along with forward-operating US Navy and Marine Corps F-35s as well. If the KF-21 could operate as an extension of a combat envelope or air formation campaign, such an aircraft could provide a tremendous advantage. Perhaps the South Korean-Indonesian aircraft can be engineered with some kind of datalink able to integrated with the F-35s Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL).
Yet another critical question with the KF-21 relates to itc sensing and computing, meaning does it have long-range, high-fidelity targeting sensors which are in any comparable to an F-22 or F-35? The KF-21 reportedly has F-18-like Infrared Search and Track targeting sensors able to operate in a high-threat EW environment as well as advanced electro-optical targeting. An operative question would be to figure out if its mission computer is able to aggregate and analyze and integrate key incoming sensor data from its AESA radar, sensors and weapons targeting sights in a manner similar to the F-35s “sensor fusion.”
Should it be able to function with advanced precision targeting and a full compliment of weapons and sensors, the KF-21 could offer an impactful air power advantage to the US and its allies align with the intention of deterring China in the Pacific. Available specs on the aircraft say it can fire what might be called strong line-up of weapons to include the widely used AIM-120D and AIM-9X Sidewinder. The aircraft can also carry and drop a wide range of glide bombs as well, however the absence of an internal weapons bay will either reduce its payload attack capacity or simply decrease the stealth effectiveness of the aircraft.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
