{"id":2200480,"date":"2023-03-24T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T23:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2200480"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:07:51","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:07:51","slug":"state-arms-agency-to-sign-kf-21-mass-production-contract-next-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/03\/state-arms-agency-to-sign-kf-21-mass-production-contract-next-year\/","title":{"rendered":"State arms agency to sign KF-21 mass-production contract next year"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) \u2014 South Korea’s state arms procurement agency \u2014 briefed lawmakers on Thursday, saying it is seeking to sign a contract next year to mass-produce KF-21 Boramae fighter jets. DAPA is also pushing to complete a provisional combat suitability test on the jet in May.<\/span><\/p>\n Under the plan, DAPA will sign a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to begin mass production of the jets in the first half of next year. But before doing so, it will conduct a feasibility study on the production from May to August and finalize the mass production plan in December. <\/span>DAPA plans to deploy the first KF-21 in 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n Launched in 2015, the KF-21 is a so-called 4.5th-generation fighter developed by KAI to replace South Korea\u2019s aging F-4 and F-5 jets. The KF-21 project has cost about <\/span>$6.7 billion<\/span><\/a>, and it is backed by Indonesia, which has pledged to pay 20% of the costs in return for access to technologies, expertise and options to buy the aircraft.<\/span><\/p>\n KAI depends on mass production to recoup its investments in the jet\u2019s development. With each\u00a0 KF-21 unit\u2019s estimated <\/span>cost<\/span><\/a> ranging between $80 million and $100 million, KAI will also rely on export deals for the program to be profitable. South Korea and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on \u201cstrategic\u201d defense industry cooperation in January, and some observers expect that the UAE could become a potential export market.<\/span><\/p>\n