KF-21 Fighter Jet
A collaboration fighter project between South Korea and Indonesia has been worked on so that it can carry out its first flight test in June 2022. The prototype aircraft named KF-21 Boramae has a color on the rear fin or vertical stabilizer.
One plane has a black fin with yellow stripes and a picture of an airplane on the end, and a label that reads KF-21 004. The other plane has a vertical stabilizer with a blue base color and graphics resembling a bird’s head painted red and white. Then also pinned writing labeled KF-21 003.
For your information, the KF-21 was made at the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) production facility in Sacheon City. This project started in 2015 and requires an investment of 8.8 trillion KRW or the equivalent of Rp. 105.4 trillion. Indonesia itself will bear 20% of the total project cost.
The KF-21 Boramae has a maximum payload capacity of 7,700 kilograms and will have 10 pods for the installation of air-to-air missiles and other weapons. This aircraft is capable of flying at a speed of 2,200 km per hour with a flight range of up to 2,900 km.
After conducting flight tests in 2022, the development process for this fighter will be completed in 2026. Even though it is dubbed a 4.5 generation fighter, the KF-21 is not a stealth aircraft that can hide itself from radar. However, the relevant officials in South Korea said that they will continue research for a possible conversion with additional features in the future.
The KF-21 Boramae is also armed with the M61 20-millimeter gatling gun, a long-barreled firearm with rapid fire capability. For engine matters, the KF-21 is powered by the General Electric F414. This is the same type of engine as the FA-18EF Super Hornet fighter made by the Boeing Company.
The engine is predicted to be able to provide a maximum thrust of up to 19 thousand kilograms. Flying speed, the KF-21 fighter is estimated to be up to Mach 2. Korea Aerospace Industries also embeds the latest electrical systems in the KF-21 and a radar capable of detecting air threats and infrared search. There is also a tracking system that can detect enemies secretly at close range along with an electric optical system that can detect enemies on the ground.