ACAB Appointed by LIG Nex1 to Develop KFX Fighter Radome Prototype

17 Februari 2012

ACAB is specialized in advanced radar dome technology (photo : Volvo Aero)

The Volvo Aero owned company, Applied Composites AB – ACAB – has been appointed by LIG Nex1, a LIG Group company in South Korea, for the development of a prototype stealth radome for the KFX aircraft programme.

ACAB is recognized as one of the leading European suppliers of advanced composite components for military applications. Among other things, ACAB is specialized in advanced radome technology, including the latest generation stealth and low-observable technology. ACAB has supported and supplied Saab for over half a century with radome technology for the Saab fighter programmes. ACAB is the supplier of the Gripen fighter radomes.

LIG Nex1 is South Korea’s number one company on military products. LIG Nex1 is working in close collaboration with advanced global companies. LIG Nex1 is developing state-of-the-art weapon systems, including radar and surveillance systems.

The radome (radar dome) is the streamlined structural part in the nose of the aircraft which protects the radar antenna from wind and weather. It is carefully designed to withstand the mechanical loads without compromising the radar performance. In addition, it increases the survivability of the aircraft due to its sophisticated stealth features.

The KFX aircraft is intended to replace South Korea’s aging F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II aircraft. The production numbers are estimated to exceed 250 aircraft. The contract includes exploratory development and production of prototypes for an undisclosed contract value. It is still too early to determine the number of people at ACAB that will be involved in development and production.

“We are very proud of and pleased with the contract from LIG Nex1 since it consolidates our position as world leader in radomes” says Torgny Stenholm, President of ACAB.

“In addition, the agreement is considered to be strategically important for ACAB as the company has plans to expand within the commercial and military aerospace segments”, he adds.

(Volvo Aero/ACAB)

European Jet Maker Likely to Backtrack on $1 bil. Pledge

09 Februari 2012

One of KFX model (image : Militaryphotos)

A European consortium of four aerospace and defense companies will likely walk away from its promise of investing 20 percent of the cost for a Korea-initiated project to develop a new multirole fighter, industry sources said Thursday.

The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company N.V. (EADS) reportedly made the pledge as Korea hinted that financial and technology contributions would favorably affect the separate selection of a foreign vender to supply 60 advanced fighter jets to Korea for 8.29 trillion won ($7.3 billion).

According to a 2011 report by Korea National Defense University, EADS expressed its intent to invest up to 20 percent or $1 billion into the KF-X program, a fighter development program.

An industry insider also confirmed that EADS had expressed it was willing to contribute as much as 20 percent of the development cost for the KF-X project to officials of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

“EADS’s position was that it was willing to comply with DAPA’s request for KF-X investment, but it was deemed too early to comment on the possible import of KF-X fighters from European countries,” said the source familiar with EADS’s talks with DAPA over the FX-III project.

“But now EADS will likely backtrack on the pledge as DAPA made it clear that no incentive will be given in the FX-III race to a company committed to share the financial burden of the KF-X project.”

Seoul has pursued the ambitious KF-X project since 2000 in a bid to replace its aging F-4 and F-5 fighter jets with indigenous aircraft with stealth capabilities and export potential by 2020.

Jakarta has been jointly conducting a feasibility study on the project while shouldering 20 percent of the $50 million initial costs.

Thirty-five Indonesian researchers have teamed up with 137 Korean experts for the exploratory stage, scheduled for completion with the selection of a prototype at the end of 2012.

Indonesia has pledged to invest $1 billion in the KF-X project and buy 50 KF-X fighters, but no other country has yet to follow suit.

Turkey is reportedly mulling joining the Korea-led consortium for the KF-X project, but on condition of an equal partnership with Korea.

A senior DAPA official said Seoul has rejected Ankara’s demand to allow it to have a 50 percent stake in the KF-X project along with Korea as it believes Seoul should play a dominant role.

He said DAPA could abandon the risky jet development project unless another country or a foreign company join the project and share between 20 percent and 29 percent of the development costs.

Meanwhile, an industrial source raised suspicion that Korea may have decided not to give an incentive to FX-III bidders with willingness to invest in the KF-X project as American defense companies, which he claims DAPA favors, showed no interest in making financial contributions.

EADS is competing with two U.S. defense giants, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, in the FX-III project, for which Korea is expected to announce the winner in October this year.

(Korea Times)

South Korea Unveils a New Medium-Range SAM

23 Desember 2011

Cheongung medium range SAM, can reach target at 40km range (photo : Defense Update)

South Korea unveils a new medium-range surface-to-air missile the Cheongung M-SAM

In December 2011, South Korea unveils its new new medium-range surface-to-air missile. The Cheongung missile will be deployed from 2013. In the second phase from next year until 2018, the ADD plans to turn the Cheongung into a ballistic interceptor missile, which would lay the groundwork for a Korean version of the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3.

Staff of the Agency for South Korean Defense Development demonstrate the Cheongung surface-to-air missile at the Daejeon headquarters of the Army.

South Korea Korea is the fifth country after Russia, France, Taiwan and Japan to have developed such a weapon. The U.S. is currently developing a high-tech medium-range surface-to-air missile in cooperation with Italy and Germany, under the name of MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defense Missile Systems).

The new SAM called ‘Cheongung’ (Iron Hawk) can intercept targets at altitude up to 15 km and at a range of about 40 km. LIG Nex1 plans to begin production in 2012 and according to the original schedule, begin replacing the first MIM-23 Hawk batteries beginning 2013.

Following the induction of the new Cheongung Seoul plans to offer the missile for export. Seoul estimates the market potential of such missiles at over US$2.3 billion. Apparently, the Russian Company that developed the system, Almaz Antey, thought the same as they kept the program alive after transferring the prototypes to Korea. The Russian version known as Vityaz could be ready to replace first generation S-300PS (5V55R) missiles, covering a similar intercept envelope, by the end of their service in 2015.

The South Korean Agency for Defense Development began development of the Cheongung in 2006, but started research in 2001 based on Russia's S-400 missile system. In cooperation with Russia, a Korean engineering team replaced a massive Russian radar system with a small device, which can be installed on a truck. The team also began research on a missile propulsion system based on the small Russian-made 9M96 missile. The radar is installed at the head of the missile to let it trace its own target.

(Army Recognition)

South Korea Displays New Mini-Sub Concept

01 Desember 2011

KS-550A Mini-Sub concept for RoKN (all photos : Network54)

South Korea's Agency for Defence Development (ADD) has unveiled an innovative mini-submarine concept - known as the KSS 500A - for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN).

The 37 m-long craft is intended to form the basis for a replacement of the two surviving Dolgorae-class mini-submarines, which entered service in the early 1980s. Design work is believed to have started in 2008 and the ADD is now selecting key systems suppliers.

According to a model and accompanying data released at the Marine Week 2011 exhibition in Busan in early November, the KSS 500A has a beam of 4.5 m, surfaced displacement of 510 tons and maximum diving depth of 250 m.

Notably, there are no onboard electrical generators; all electrical power is provided instead by two banks of lithium ion batteries. While the Dolgarae-class boats require frequent snorkelling, the KSS 500A is designed to require minimal snorkelling during a typical three-week patrol.

The streamlined sail houses up to four masts for electro-optic, radar, satellite communications and electronic security measures systems, and there is a fifth - modular payload - mast for launching small unmanned aerial vehicles.

The pressure hull has four compartments: combat information centre, machinery room, special forces area and accommodation/messing. Weapons and sonars are installed in the forward section, while the integrated electric motor with coaxial flexible payload module (FPM) occupies the aft section.

Control surfaces include two bow-mounted dive planes and an X-shaped stern. A podded motor, stator and rotor propel the submarine at a cruise speed of 5-7 kt, although a sprint speed of 20 kt is possible. However, the endurance of 21 days and range of 2,000 n miles at low speeds are severely curtailed at higher speeds.

Although the boat can be operated by a crew of five, the design complement is 10 persons using a two-watch system. Up to 14 special forces personnel can also be embarked. The FPM at the stern allows the deployment of divers, swimmer delivery vehicles and unmanned underwater vehicles.

Armament comprises tubes for two heavyweight torpedoes and four lightweight torpedoes, located close to a payload interface module containing two box launchers: one for vertical-launch missiles, the other for mines. The KSS 500A is considerably larger than the Dolgorae-class boats. Built amid much secrecy, three Dolgoraes were commissioned in 1982-83 with pennant numbers 051-053. The legacy craft are about 25 m in length with a surfaced displacement of 250 tons. It is understood that five new mini-submarines are required by the RoKN, although induction timelines could not be ascertained.

(Jane's)

KF-X Vision Unveiled

27 Oktober 2011

KFX variant in Seoul Air Show 2011 (all photos : Stephen Trimble)

In a seminar today at the Seoul Air Show, South Korean government officials outlined the strategy and plans for the KF-X, a twin-engined stealth fighter with a design goal of achieving manoeuvrability, speed and range performance between a Lockheed Martin F-16 and a Boeing F-15.

South Korea wants to develop the KF-X over the next nine years, with mass production beginning after 2020. Indonesia has already joined the programme, and talks with Turkey are continuing.

If developing an all-new stealth fighter is not enough of a challenge, South Korea also intends to equip the KF-X with a set of all-new weapons, including indigenous missiles in the Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM class, guided bombs and an anti-ship missile. South Korean officials have released a development budget estimate of about US$5 billion, which seems (wildly?) optimistic.

KF-X has previously been pictured with canards, but that concept was nowhere in today's presenations. Instead, the KF-X appears to have morphed into a more conventional fighter. It appears similar a two-engine variant of the Lockheed F-35. This is Korea's vision for the KF-X. Eurofighter presented an alternative vision of KF-X, which I will present later.

(DEWLine-FlightGlobal)

See Also :

Sneak-Peek of K-FX Cockpit

19 Oktober 2011

Tucked into a corner of the Samsung Thales exhibit booth was a small room labeled "Next Generation Aircraft Display". Inside was a demonstration cockpit, and a clue to one of the key pieces of South Korea's indigenous K-FX stealth fighter.

An attendant who spoke only slightly more English than we can speak Korean seemed to express that this was a new KF-16 cockpit. But the image on the large area display showing a fighter with canards and a canted tail gave the secret away. This was the locally developed cockpit concept for the fighter South Korea hopes to develop by 2020.

(DEWline-FlightGlobal)

Seoul Eyes Powerplant Options for KF-X

19 Oktober 2011

EJ200 is the powerplant for the Eurofighter Typhoon (photo : Eurofighter)

Seoul is tentatively exploring engine options for its proposed Korea Fighter Experimental (KF-X) programme, with the Eurojet consortium putting forward its EJ200 powerplant.

According to industry sources at the Seoul air show, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration has issued requests for information to Eurojet for its EJ200 and to General Electric for its F414.

"We are offering the EJ200 as it is for KF-X, and would allow them to manufacture 60% of the engine," said Eurojet vice-president sales Paul Herrmann.

"This would involve 60% technology transfer, and help make them self-sustaining."

He added that it was up to Seoul to decide what 60% of the engine it would produce locally, adding that it seems particularly interested in full authority digital engine control technology.

The EJ200 is the powerplant for the Eurofighter Typhoon (above), a contender in South Korea's F-X III competition for 60 fighters. Herrmann stressed that the EJ200 offer for KF-X is not associated with Eurofighter's F-X III campaign. The F414 powers the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Though the KF-X is likely to require 50,000lb (220kN) of thrust, Seoul has yet to decide if this will be achieved with two engines of the EJ200 and F414 size, or with a single larger engine such as the Pratt & Whitney F135, which powers the Lockheed Martin F-35.

P&W has not received an RFI in relation to KF-X, but said it would be willing to explore the possibility if approached. P&W is the dominant powerplant supplier for the Republic of Korea Air Force, with its F100 engines powering the 21 Boeing F-15Ks obtained under the F-X II competition, as well as the service's fleet of Lockheed KF-16s.

The KF-X is intended as an F-16 replacement. Although Seoul has been interested in the programme for some time, it was only in July that Korea Aerospace Industries and the government signed a contract to develop the aircraft. Indonesia is also part of the programme, with the two governments opening a combined research and development centre in August.

On 14 July, Indonesia's Antara official news agency said Jakarta would participate in the programme, contributing 20% of the development costs. The two partners have agreed to produce 150 to 200 units, of which Indonesia would get 50.

Industry sources have said Washington is highly dubious about the KF-X programme. It may be wary of providing advanced technologies for an aircraft that is being co-produced with Indonesia, a country that has been subject to US arms sanctions in the past.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a US government official has also said KF-X will place a tremendous strain on South Korea's research capabilities and defence budget, resulting in a fighter less effective than others available in the international market.

(Flight Global)