KF-X project on track but concerns grow about Indonesian involvement
Technicians from Indonesian aerospace firm PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI)
will soon be rejoining counterparts from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to undertake work on developing the Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X) multirole fighter aircraft, Janes has learnt.
PTDI technicians on the KF-X project
– known as KF-X/IF-X in Indonesia –
returned to Indonesia from South Korea in March when the Covid-19 epidemic was at its peak in the Northeast Asian country.
An industry source has confirmed to Janes that these technicians are now “currently preparing to redeploy”.
Janes understands
that at the end of 2019 the total number of PTDI technicians on the KF-X project in South Korea was about 100, with their work mainly focused on aircraft design and manufacturing processes.
Their redeployment will be framed against requirements for social distancing and other Covid-19-related guidelines.
The move to re-engage PTDI technicians on the project
comes against a background of progress on the development of KF-X prototypes but also continuing delays in efforts to reach a compromise on the scope of Indonesian financial participation in the programme.
Another factor that could have an impact on Indonesia’s involvement are some concerns in Jakarta about the strategic value of its involvement.
KAI
has confirmed that assembly of the first KF-X prototype is scheduled to be finalised in the second half of 2020, with a view to rolling out the aircraft in April 2021.
The schedules confirm that the KF-X programme has not been affected by Covid-19 and is on track to start mass production in the mid-2020s.
First prototype of KF-X: Targeting first flight in the first half of 2022
First prototype of KF-X:
KF-X started in January 2016 and completed the basic design in June of last year.
The detailed design of the hardware and software has been completed, and part production is in progress.
The first prototype is targeted for the first flight in the first half of 2022, and development is scheduled to be completed by 2026.
Korean newspaper, World Daily:
In fact, the problem of integrating air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons attached to the KF-X with the aircraft has been difficult.
The stealth function may also fall below the expectations of the Korean Aerospace Industry (KAI) and the Defense Agency.
World | Newsweek
https://www.newsweekjapan.jp/stories/world/2019/11/post-13507_1.php