KF-21 Boramae, strong candidate for Philippines Multi Role Fighter | Cost effective solution for PAF.
Cost effective solution for the Philippine Air Force.
The South Korean KF21 fighter is putting itself up as a competitor in the Philippines' ongoing effort to improve its air defense capabilities. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has received a request for information (RFI) from Manila on the stealth fighter, and Shin Dong Hak, vice-president of foreign business development at KAI, said that KAI is getting ready to respond. KAI has continued its flight testing since the initial KF21 flight in 2022, and the fifth prototype is currently in the skies.
Manila has been involved in a prolonged Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) competition, wherein Lockheed Martin's F-16 and Saab's Gripen are the leading contenders. The Philippines, which currently has 12 FA 50’s in service and plans to buy another 12, has shown a strong interest in South Korean defense products. Shin also said that talks with a Middle Eastern nation were ongoing, although he did not say which.
As a junior partner in the KF21 program, Indonesia is another important participant working to obtain an IFX version. Plans are still in place for IFX production between 2025 and 2029, with Indonesian Aerospace handling local production, notwithstanding financial and developmental obstacles. Shin emphasized that the KF21 will enter the Republic of Korea Air Force in late 2026 and that KAI started mass producing the aircraft in early July. Last August 2022, Colonel Maynard Mariano, the Philippine Air Force's spokesperson, mentioned the KF21 Boramae as a possible candidate for the MRF project . Potential exports of the KF21 and other defense equipment were discussed by representatives from South Korea and the Philippines during the DSA 2024 conference in Malaysia. Under the Philippines' military modernization plan, Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) highlighted cooperative measures with a particular emphasis on the KF21, FA50, and submarines.
Though funding for the program is still pending, the KF21 is offered as a candidate for the MRF. According to Colonel Mariano, construction tailored to the PAF's requirements for 2027-2029 would be encouraged if Manila chose to purchase just the KF21. The evaluations are the result of the Philippine Department of Defense, which at first evaluated the F16 Block 70 Viper and the JAS39 Gripen, but ultimately concluded that the KF21 was a more cost-effective option. With 65% of its parts locally designed in South Korea, the KF21 is famous for integrating cutting edge technologies, such as an AESA radar and a sophisticated electronic warfare suite. But the majority of its armaments would come from MBDA.
Colonel Mariano stressed the value of keeping an open mind to new technologies, especially because they help speed up the prototyping process. He emphasized how innovative systems may efficiently meet defense requirements. The KF21 presents itself as a viable contender to support Philippine air defense in the face of regional difficulties, particularly territorial claims in the South China Sea, while the final decision on purchasing new planes is still pending. However ,if the Philippines choose the KF21 according to some experts, the earliest that the Philippine Air Force can hold on to their KF21, the earliest will be in 2030’s.
Music: alexander-nakarada-superepic(chosic.com)
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16 сен 2024
