Turkey and South Korea are the two countries that have stunned the world with the rapid rise of multi– domain advanced indigenous technologies, enriching as well as steering themselves towards self–reliance in the true sense. Today we will dive into the journey of their fifth–generation fighter jet development programmes to understand their objectives, planning, progress, obstacles and process of achievement.
KF–X KF–21 Boramae
The Korean fighter jet programme dates back to 2001, when then President of South Korea Kim Dae Jung envisioned a programme for a multi–role fighter jet to replace the F–4D/E Phantom II and F–5E/F Tiger. The “Joint Chiefs of Staff” soon formulated the requirements, but practically no movement could be observed till 2009 amidst the risk of a highly ambitious programme. The limited indigenous capability steered Korea to concentrate on the then under development FA–50 programme and F–X Phase 3 acquisition. However, the 2010 North Korean attack on Yeonpyeong Island changed the course forever, and Seoul zeroed down to develop a fighter jet under a programme named “KF–X.”. To reduce the risk, it was decided to have a fourth generation platform first rather than jump to an ambitious fifth generation one. The same year, in July, Indonesia officially joined the programme under a partnership to provide 20% of the funding for the project. However, until January 2024, not much progress regarding investment has been made, so keeping the Indonesian side of the story out of the picture. Surprisingly, in the same year, Turkey was also reported to join the programme and contribute 20% of the total investment. Thus, at one point, it could become a trilateral partnership between South Korea, Indonesia, and Turkey. But Turkey departed within months, announcing their MMU TF–X, which would later give birth to “Kaan.” Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) got involved in configuration studies and outlining technical requirements.
Based on the requirements, the design teams started drafting the basic shape. The Agency for Defence Development (ADD) presented two basic designs: C103 and a canard C203, keeping the potential results of F–X Phase 3 in mind. Meanwhile, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) proposed a single–engine alternative design, the C501, as a cost effective solution. In 2013, General Electric F404 and F414 and Eurojet Turbo GmbH EJ200 were selected as the potential engines of the KF–X. KAI and Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL–ASD) were selected as the two competing companies to develop KF–X. KAL signed a MoU with Airbus, while Lockheed Martin became a partner of KAI. In May 2015, DAPA awarded KAI as the official establishment to continue the KF–X programme. The next year, in May, a contract worth an estimated $3.5 billion was awarded to General Electric for the supply of 240 (and spare) F414 engines. The local variant would be known as F414–GE–400K and manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace. However, everything wasn’t smooth afterwards as the US government sanctioned the transfer of four key technologies to Korea by Lockheed Martin. However, Lockheed agreed to supply 21 technologies from the F–35 under an agreement. DAPA went ahead to develop those critical technologies in–house.
known as F414–GE–400K and manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace. However, everything wasn’t smooth afterwards as the US government sanctioned the transfer of four key technologies to Korea by Lockheed Martin. However, Lockheed agreed to supply 21 technologies from the F–35 under an agreement. DAPA went ahead to develop those critical technologies in–house. The next few years saw many Korean companies partner with established foreign firms with strongholds in corresponding fields and come up with indigenous solutions. The PDR was completed by June 2018, and the C109 model was officially locked as the official design. The first prototype was put on the assembly line in February 2019, and it was ready by November. The completed prototype was first rolled out to the public on 9 April 2021. The very same day, KF–X was officially christened KF–21 Boramae. It conducted the first taxi trial on March 17, 2022. Finally, on July 19, that year, it conducted the first flight. As of January 2024, all six prototypes have conducted their flight, and DAPA has certified the KF–21 as a combat–ready platform. KF–21 is now scheduled to enter serial production in the same year. KF–21 is maturing block by block. Block 1 is an advanced 4.5– generation platform with semi–recessed missile bays to carry long–range air to air missiles. Thus, Block 1 will be just an air–superiority platform. Block 2 will be further modified to be a multi–role platform. Finally, Block 3 will incorporate an internal weapon bay to be a fully fifth– generation platform. There is also a proposal for a naval variant for the potential Korean aircraft carrier project. Currently, there is a requirement of 40 KF–21 Block I and 80 Block II platforms. South Korea aims to continue to have a sixth–generation platform.
TF–X Kaan
It was in 2010 when then Prime Minister of Turkey, Tayyip Erdoğan, under the presidency of Abdullah Gül, met then Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner to develop an advanced national fighter jet project to be completed by 2023. The next year, the Savunma Sanayii Mustesarligi (SSM, Undersecretariat for the Defence Industry) and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) signed an agreement to design and develop the platform. Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI) was roped in for the development of the indigenous turbofan engine in due course. The Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU, National Combat Aircraft) programme aimed to complement and eventually replace the F–16 in service. The preliminary design phase was started in mid 2011, and a sum equivalent to $20 million was allocated. Swedish aerospace giant SAAB joined in 2012 for the formulation of conceptual designs. The next year, TAI submitted three different concept designs: FX–1, FX5, and FX6. Both the FX–5 and FX–6 were single–engine concepts, while the FX–1 was a two– engine one. In 2015, Turkey zeroed in on the twin–engine concept. The next year, SSM granted $1.8 billion to TAI for the preliminary design phase. The aim was to acquire the necessary technologies for the development, set–up of testing infrastructures, and certification of the platform.
Around the same time, a RFP was released for the procurement of an adequate engine and domestic production with the transfer of technology as much as possible. General Electric, Eurojet Turbo GmbH (a consortium of Rolls–Royce Holdings PLC and MTU Aero Engines AG), and Snecma responded with their products: the GE F414 and GE F110, the EJ–200 and the M88, respectively. In 2017, a contract worth more than £100 million was signed with BAE of the UK for engineering support. This enabled further partnership between Kale Group and Rolls–Royce for the development of an advanced turbofan engine for the TF–X, with IPR rights secured for Turkey. The JV, known as Turkish Air Engine Company (TAEC), was to make a suitable engine based on the EJ200. However, the £100 million partnership soon hit a hiatus due to uncertainties over technology transfer, to be solved only by 2022. Meanwhile, BMC and TAI established TRMotor Power Systems and signed a MoU with Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı (SSB, Defence Industry Agency, erstwhile SSM) in 2018 for the development of the engine. TEI was already involved in the project. All three establishments responded to the RFP released by the SSB in 2022 for the development of an adequate engine. Interestingly, TRMotor now has a partnership with TEI and Ukrainian–origin Ivchenko Progress. For the interim, a General Electric F110–GE–129 engine was selected. The preliminary design work for TFX started in 2021. The first prototype was put on the assembly line in March 2022, and it was ready by November. The completed prototype went public for the first time on 10 February 2023. It conducted the first taxi trial on 17 March 2023. On 1 May, President Erdoğan officially named TF–X “Kaan”! Finally, on 21 February 2024, the first prototype of “Kaan” conducted its maiden flight, creating history as the fourth nation in the world and second nation in Asia to make a fifth–generation fighter jet to the sky! The first flight spanned 13 minutes, reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet and achieving a speed of 230 knots. Turkey plans to fly seven prototypes, followed by formal joining in 2028. A naval variant is also planned for future aircraft carriers in Turkey. As of February 2024, there is a plan for 270 platforms (of which 250 are planned between 2029 and 2040) for the air force. Block 10 will use the US origin GE F–110 engine, while Block 20 will be integrated with the indigenous engines. Turkey aims to evolve “Kaan” into a sixth–generation fighter platform in the next decade.
Article by Sankalan Chattopadhyay Twitter: @vinoddx9
A comparative data between KF–X (KF–21 Boramae) and TF–X (Kaan)