Seoul, Aug. 29 – South Korea advances indigenous sixth-generation fighter work via the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Agency for Defense Development to retain combat aircraft design expertise and match Western programs. Officials foresee the Republic of Korea Air Force fielding the next-generation combat aircraft no sooner than 2040. DAPA launched a fourteen-month study of operational concepts, configurations, and technology roadmaps funded near 650,000 dollars.
The request requires tailless designs with internal bays, diamond or lambda wings, serpentine inlets, and dual adaptive-cycle engines for supercruise above Mach 1 and multiband stealth. Teams must review the F-47, J-36, J-50, and Global Combat Air Program for radius speed and electronic warfare parameters. ADD showed a twin-engine cranked-delta blended concept with canards, three weapon bays, and thrust-vectoring nozzles.
It remains unclear if the project will replace an unapproved stealth KF-21 Block 3. Near-term KF-21 production holds greater air force priority. Independent development would be South Korea’s first largely unaided fighter after prior Lockheed Martin support.
Propulsion is the main hurdle since the KTF-16000 engine lacks needed dry thrust and adaptive-cycle know-how. Korea Aerospace Industries, Korean Air and LIG Defense could join an ADD stealth demonstrator slated to fly within four years. Seoul gears up for future fighter.