South Korean KF-21 Borame Fighter to be Armed with General Dynamics 20mm Gatling Gun System



The South Korean KF-21 “Borame” fighter is armed with the M61A2 20mm Gatling gun system produced by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The fixed-forward internal gun system provides maximum firing rate performance. The KF-21 armament system features the lightweight M61A2 20mm Gatling gun and linear linkless ammunition feed system. The M61A2 provides up to 10 times the reliability of single-barrel guns, firing at 6,000 shots per minute and placing a controlled dispersion of projectiles in the path of the target. The M61A2 is available for applications where weapon system weight reduction is critical.

The linear linkless ammunition feed system features state of-the-art composite and unique gun-feed technologies to provide high reliability at minimum weight. General Dynamics ammunition storage and handling systems have been used in all modern U.S. front-line fighter aircraft. The KF-21 linear linkless ammunition feed system is compatible with three General Dynamics loading systems, including the Universal Ammunition Loading System, the Ammunition Loading System and the Universal Delinking Loader. The ALS and UALS systems significantly reduce manpower requirements and aircraft turnaround time by eliminating the need for linked ammunition.

The M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically driven, six-barrel, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon. The M61 was originally produced by General Electric. After several mergers and acquisitions, it is currently produced by General Dynamics. The initial M61 used linked ammunition, but the ejection of spent links created considerable problems. The original weapon was soon replaced by the M61A1, with a linkless feed system. A lighter version of the Vulcan developed for use on the F-22 Raptor, designated M61A2, is mechanically the same as the M61A1, but with thinner barrels to reduce overall weight to 92 kilograms (202 lb).

The KAI KF-21 Boramae (formerly known as KF-X) is a South Korean 4.5 generation fighter aircraft development program, with limited Indonesian inolvement, with the goal of producing an advanced multirole fighter for the South Korean and Indonesian air forces. The airframe is stealthier than other fourth-generation fighters, but does not carry weapons in internal bays like fifth-generation fighters, though internal bays may be introduced later in development. It was officially given the name Boramae (literally ‘young hawk’ or ‘eyas’). At least 40 aircraft are planned to be delivered by 2028 and a total of 120 of the aircraft by 2032.

[Exclusive] Hypersonic missile applied to Korean fighter jets

Input by Nak-Kyu Yang
2022. 01. 13. 10:52


A Korean supersonic air-to-ship missile for KFX to be developed by the Defense Science Research Institute. Photo courtesy of National Defense Science Research Institute

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] As North Korea claimed that it had succeeded in developing a hypersonic missile with a maximum speed of Mach 10, the issue of military imbalance between the two Koreas emerged. The South Korean military is also accelerating the development of hypersonic missiles in response to this. Hypersonic missiles are called “game changers” that can change the game of warfare in that they are more difficult to detect and intercept than general ballistic missiles. Only three countries, the US, China and Russia, have successfully launched the launch.

A government official said on the 13th, "We have requested the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a hypersonic missile to be installed on the Korean fighter KF-21 Boramae, and we plan to start developing it as early as this year." The process of requesting the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the official first step towards developing weapons.

The Defense Science Research Institute (ADD) determined that it would be possible to develop a hypersonic missile with a range of 500 km or more and a speed of Mach 5 or more, considering the level of domestic technology and the weight of the KF-21 armament as a result of a preliminary concept study last year. ADD plans to develop a ground-launched hypersonic vehicle and complete flight tests next year. If a hypersonic missile is developed based on this vehicle and launched from the sky above Seoul, it can reach Pyongyang, 250 km away, in 1 minute and 15 seconds.

ADD is also planning to develop a supersonic air-to-ship missile with a maximum speed of 2 to 3 Mach and install it on the KF-21. The Joint Chiefs of Staff decided to develop and equip the KF-21 with a supersonic air-to-ship missile at the 326th Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting in February 2019.

The military is planning to equip the KF-21 with air-to-air missiles (two types), air-to-surface bombs (9 types), and air-to-surface missiles (1 type). watching.

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Jan – Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz menjelaskan, Kementerian Pertahanan kini dalam rangka perbincangan awal bagi proses pembelian aset udara dari Tentera Udara Kuwait.

Beliau berkata, sehingga kini perbincangan tersebut masih dilakukan selepas cadangan pembelian aset jet pejuang F/A 18D Hornet disuarakan di Parlimen sebelum ini.

“Di Parlimen, saya pernah dibangkitkan dengan soalan keupayaan pertahanan negara, kita berminat untuk mendapatkan pesawat dari Kuwait yang hendak dilupuskan,

“Difahamkan, Tentera Udara Kuwait hendak membeli pesawat yang lebih maju berbanding F/A 18D Hornet ini,

“Sekiranya pesawat ini masih boleh pakai lagi, jumlah penggunaan jam yang masih bagus. Dan ia merupakan aset yang baik, jadi perolehan pesawat tersebut buat masa ini masih dalam proses perbincangan awal,” jelasnya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika sidang akhbar selepas majlis pelancaran Kerjaya Ekonomi Gig Veteran ATM di Wisma Perwira ATM, hari ini.

Ikmal Hisham sebelum ini menyatakan hasrat kerajaan untuk memperoleh 33 buah F/A-18 dari Kuwait. -airtimes.my

Perolehan F/A 18D Kuwait masih dalam perbincangan awal – AirTimes.MY
still in internal discussion stage? haven't even has discussion with kuwait yet?

You calling Germany useless kinda hits too hard at home lah bos 🥲.

As it is we also play the same game as Germany, overly reliance on the Anglo Saxon to provide us protection while doesn't really do enough ourselves which itself a very parasitic behavior while backstabbing them in the process to fake play neutrality.