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S. Korea Weighs Designs for KF-X

Feb. 10, 2014 - 12:15PM  | 
By JUNG SUNG-KI  |  Comments

SEOUL — A decadelong effort by South Korea to develop its own fighter aircraft has finally received approval, yet the feasibility of the ambitious indigenous project, dubbed KF-X, is still in debate.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Jan. 5 that it would begin the KF-X development with the allocation of 20 billion won (US $19 million). Seoul aims to produce 120 KF-X jets between 2023 and 2030, the agency said.

But the announcement sparked a dispute over key specifications for the KF-X, especially over the design of the future jet.

The state-funded Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has long studied a twin-engine concept, either of the C103 design that looks somewhat like the F-35 or the C203 design following the European approach and using forward canards in a stealth-shaped airframe.

Both of the twin-engine platforms would be powered by two 18,000-pound engines, ADD officials said.

Korea Aerospace Industries, on the other hand, prefers a single-engine concept, dubbed C501, which is to be built based on the FA-50, a light attack aircraft version of the T-50 supersonic trainer jet co-produced by Lockheed Martin.

The C501, powered by a 29,000-pound engine, is designed to be fitted with a limited low-observable configuration and advanced avionics.

“A single-engine concept is in pursuance of both affordability and combat performance, based on the advanced FA-50 technologies,” said Lee Myung-hwa, Korea Aerospace Industries spokesman.

The FA-50 entered service in August with the South Korean Air Force. Powered by a General Electric F404 engine, the aircraft is armed with air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, machine guns and precision-guided bombs, such as joint direct-attack munitions and sensor-fuzed weapons.

In December, South Korea signed a $1.1 billion deal with Iraq to export 24 FA-50s, following a 2011 contract with Indonesia for 16 FA-50s.

The state-funded Korea Institute for Defense Analyses backs the single-engine design and questions the country’s technical readiness for developing an aircraft that could compete with fighter jets developed by US and European aerospace giants.

“A new jet fighter is a massive endeavor at the best of times, and widely unrealistic technical expectations do not help the project,” said Lee Joo-hyung, a senior researcher at the institute. He expects the KF-X development to cost at least 10 trillion won ($927 million), which is much higher than buying foreign aircraft.

Lockheed Martin is also supportive of the single-engine type. “Obviously, a derivative airplane will be cheaper and faster to develop than a clean-sheet, brand-new aircraft,” a Lockheed Martin official said. “But the bottom line is, we will give full assistance for whatever KF-X design that Korea chooses.”

The ADD, however, claims a plane that’s larger than the KF-16 and has two engines will provide more room for future upgrades.

“A fighter with a new concept has better economic feasibility than one based on the existing platform in terms of total life-cycle costs,” said Lee Dae-yeol, head of ADD’s aircraft systems development bureau.

The ADD expects about 6 trillion won are needed to develop the KF-X, 8 trillion won for production and 9 trillion won for operation and maintenance costs.

“We’ve secured independent technologies enough to proceed with the KF-X,” Lee said. “Of the 432 technologies for developing an aircraft, we assess we’re only short of 48 items. Then we can push for the KF-X in cooperation with foreign partners.”

The ADD envisions KF-X Block 2 would have internal weapon bays, and Block 3 would feature further stealth improvements to the level of the B-2 bomber or F-35.

“The twin-engine design offers added space for new Korean-designed weapons and internal bays, but this feature will still be a notable design challenge,” said Kim Dae-young, a member of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a private defense think tank.

Still, the Air Force prefers a twin-engine aircraft because of its flight safety and larger operational range.

“Normally, a twin-engine fighter features a larger combat range than that of a single-engine,” an Air Force officer said. “Obviously, it’s safer, too. Even though an engine quits in a twin, the pilot could prevent the airplane from going out of control.”

The Air Force believes an F-16-class fighter development is meaningless at the moment, as its regional rivals — Japan and China — are pushing ahead with air power modernization.

“The first deployment of the KF-X is to start in 2013 at the earliest. By that time, an F-16-class fighter will become an old model, definitely,” the officer said. “It’s meaningless to have that type of aircraft by the time neighboring countries are operating future-generation fighter fleets.”

DAPA spokesman Baek Yoon-hyung said, “We will listen to various opinions from different research institutes and experts before choosing KF-X specifications.”

The agency will hold a top executive meeting presided over by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin to finalize KF-X requirements, he added.

Indonesia is the only KF-X partner. It joined in June 2010 to bear 20 percent of the development costs.

Turkey is referred to as a potential partner, but there has been no tangible progress over the Seoul-Ankara discussions. Turkey is said to demand that it take more control over the project than a 20 percent share.

Indonesia May Replace F-5s With Su-35s

Feb. 10, 2014 - 11:52AM   | 
By TIARMA SIBORO   |   Comments

Singapore Airshow To Focus on F-16s and F-35s
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s defense authority is leaning toward a plan to purchase 16 of the latest generation of Russian twin-engine Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighters to replace its F-5 Tigers.

The decision to purchase the Russian fighters came after a meeting between Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Indonesian military top brass, including Military Commander Gen. Moeldoko and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Ida Bagus Putu Dunia in mid-January.

Speaking to reporters, Yusgiantoro said they also considered other options to replace the aging Tigers beyond the Su-35 purchase.

Moeldoko said the Air Force will hold further evaluations of other fighters prior to making a final decision. Other fighters under evaluation are the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60, Boeing’s F-15 Silent Eagle and F/A-18 Super Hornet, and the Dassault Rafale.

An Air Force adviser — a retired three-star Air Force marshal — hinted that the American fighters would likely be preferable for Indonesia.

The adviser, however, said the Tiger replacement would not be decided in the near future, despite claims that Indonesia is ready to equip its Air Force with a squadron of new fighters.

The Indonesian Air Force operates six F-5Es and two South Korean T-50 Golden Eagle advanced supersonic trainers.

The Air Force is also equipped with 10 F-16A/Bs and a squadron of Su-27/30s.

During the first phase of the Indonesian Defense Strategic Plan, the Air Force has begun receiving 16 T-50s, with final delivery expected by the end of this year.

Debate has been rife in Indonesian defense circles over whether to buy Russian, European or US fighters. A final decision will be made after the presidential and legislative elections scheduled for October.

Air defence: Rheinmetall wins major orders in Asia and Europe - total value around €50 million

(PresseBox) (Düsseldorf, 11.02.2014)  In recent weeks Rheinmetall has won major orders in the field of military air defence. Indonesia and a European nation have ordered air defence products for air force and naval applications which, together with accompanying services, are worth a total of about €50 million.

Indonesia has opted to expand its existing Rheinmetall-made Oerlikon Skyshield air defence systems with a follow-on order for Skyshield fire units. Worth over €38 million, the contract includes training and logistical services for the Indonesian armed forces. The delivery period extends through to the end of 2015.

Meanwhile, a European navy has ordered two Oerlikon Millennium automatic cannon for one of its surface combatants. The contract is worth around €12 million, and also includes technical documentation, spare parts and services relating to maintenance training and system integration. Delivery is scheduled to take place in 2015.

Rheinmetall is one of the world's leading makers of sophisticated short-range air defence systems. It is the market leader in cannon-based air defence, and the only single-source system supplier of fire control technology, automatic cannon, integrated guided missile launchers and the Group's proprietary Ahead ammunition.

On behalf of the German Bundeswehr, Rheinmetall has developed the "Mantis" air defence system, which recently entered service. The most advanced system of its kind worldwide, it reliably protects military installations and forward operating bases from incoming rockets, artillery and mortar rounds.

With its tried-and-tested 35mm Skyshield technology, Rheinmetall has set an internationally unsurpassed standard for excellence, especially when it comes to protecting public venues and critical civilian infrastructure from terrorist threats.

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin pointing to a picture of a Bell AH-1Z Viper at Bell’s booth.

SINGAPORE: Boeing closes in on Indian Apache, Chinook deals

By: Craig Hoyle Singapore

2 minutes ago

Boeing expects to sign contracts soon covering India’s planned purchase of its AH-64E Apache and CH-47F Chinook helicopters, while global interest in the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor produced with partner Bell has reached a new high.

India is currently in “final signature routing with the Ministry of Defence” for both its planned acquisitions, says Leanne Caret, Boeing’s vice-president, vertical lift. “We anticipate a contract for the Chinooks in the first half of the year, and the Apaches in the second half,” she adds.

Boeing has held its prices for the planned 22-aircraft Apache buy and 15-unit Chinook sale since submitting final offers in 2010 and 2009, respectively, Caret says.

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, Indonesia moved to acquire the AH-64E last year, while Boeing has an active campaign to offer the type to Malaysia.

And Caret hints at further likely developments for the AH-64 programme, which in 2013 delivered its 2,000th production aircraft. Referring to long-term plans for an “Advanced Apache”, she notes: “there will be more technologies that will come.”

Meanwhile, as a pair of US Marine Corps MV-22s are making the type’s debut appearance at a Singapore show, Caret says the type is getting “a lot of interest internationally”. Israel is currently moving towards finalising an order for six of the type, solicitations have been received from two other nations and multiple delegations are being flown this week.

International sales of the Osprey, combined with a potential opportunity to meet a replacement carrier onboard delivery need for the US Navy, could combine to boost production by up to 100 aircraft beyond current confirmed orders for the US Air Force and Marines, Caret says.