KF-21 boramaea multi -roller fighter jet developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)appear as one of the most promising candidates in the selection process of Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) the program in India.
According to reports from Indian defense media published August 1, the South Korean fighter jet is actively evaluated by The Indian Air Defense (IAF)which tries to fill increasing holes in their fighter jet.
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With the goal of acquiring the least 60 advanced fighter aircraft of 4.5. generationNew Delhi KF-21 considers a competitive platform in terms of both costs and strategic potential. The aircraft is equipped with AESA radar, IRST (infrared search and tracking system), electronic warfare and modern weapons compatibility. The modular design allows future upgrades, including internal weapons rooms and stealth coatings, as planned in Block III-variants.
Driven by two General Electric F414-400K-The motors, when KF-21 a top speed on Mach 1,8have a match range of around 1 500 nautical miles and can carry up to 7 700 kg with weapons. An important point according to Indian press is the use of the same type of F414 engine already selected for the Indian programs TEJA MK II and UNCLEwhich can simplify logistics, maintenance and operational integration.
The development began in 2011 in response to the aging of South Korea’s F-4 and F-5 fleet. KF-21 is now in the floating test phase and the first units are scheduled to be delivered to The Republic of Korea’s Air Force By 2026. Although it was originally designed as a 5-generation fighter jet, the project was adjusted to a 4.5G configuration to meet urgent operational needs.
In addition to the technical capabilities, the South Korean fighter jet can fit with India’s industrial policy “Make in India”, with opportunities for local assembly or co -production. KF-21’s open architecture enables the integration of Indian-developed systems that UTTAM AESA-Radar and Astra– Missiles, agreed on source code and software access.
When it comes to price, the estimated unit cost for KF-21 is between 87 million and 110 million USDincluding engines-lower than competitors such as Rafale, SU-57 and F-35. In July, Bloomberg reported that India informed the United States that they are not interested in buying the F-35, despite several approaches from Washington.
With the imminent pension of aircraft that Mig-21 and JaguarIAF is facing a critical reduction in combat capacity – which accelerates the pursuit of new solutions. In this context, KF-21 Boramae appears as a strategic and realistic alternative to strengthening India’s air defense.
Sources and pictures: defence-blog. This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial staff.
