South Korea develops KF-21N aircraft carrier fighter with hypersonic missiles and General Electric F414 engines

The South Korean company Korea Aerospace Industries at the DX Korea 2022 exhibition announced the development of a Generation 4++ fighter called the KF-21N.

Here's What We Know

The KF-21N will be a modification of the KF-21, which made its debut flight a few months ago. It will enter service with the country's Navy and will be used on aircraft carriers. The fighter development program depends on which aircraft carrier South Korea will buy. But Korea Aerospace Industries says it is ready to start production of the aircraft within a few years.

The company has so far refused to disclose all the technical characteristics of the aircraft, but it is known that it will receive hypersonic long-range air-to-surface missiles. Apparently, we are talking about the missiles developed by the Defense Development Agency. The maximum weight of the payload will be about 7,600 kg, and the takeoff weight will be more than 25 tons. The fighter will be able to reach a speed of almost 2000 km/h (M=1.6).

The KF-21N will also have a 20% increase in wing area to improve stability during takeoff and landing on the aircraft carrier. It is possible that the fighter will be able to use shortened runways. In addition, the aircraft will be equipped with two F414 engines from General Electric.

Flashback

The KF-21 fighter jet is being developed as part of the KAI KF-X program with the participation of Indonesia. The cost of the project is $6.67 billion instead of the planned $5.2 billion. The aircraft made its first flight in mid-July. As part of the test, the fighter was able to stay in the air for more than half an hour and reached a speed of 400 kilometers per hour. The tests will last till 2026.

Source: Janes