Korea to study developing new combat aircraft

Politics

Published: 21 Jan. 2010, 20:51

Korea to study developing new combat aircraft

Korea may develop its own combat fighters and helicopters, the government said yesterday.

In a state council review of aerospace industry development policy organized by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, high-ranking officials from ministries and state-run agencies agreed to create Korean Fighter Experimental (KFX) and Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH) programs.

The fate of the programs has been embroiled in controversy. The issue was whether to manufacture the military craft locally or import them.

Under the basic plan, KFX and KAH projects will undergo two years of basic exploration. Development would begin next year. However, the government will re-evaluate the feasibility of the programs at the end of 2012 and determine whether to implement full-scale development.

Basic explorations of both programs are slated to be implemented through the defense budget.

If the decision is made for full development, the KFX and KAH are scheduled to be completed by 2021 and 2018, respectively. Previously, the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly arranged a budget of 1.4 billion won ($1.2 million) for the KFX and 3 billion won for the KAH. But the amount was cut during a review in the National Assembly.

“In order to launch fundamental research on two programs starting next year, enough budget has to be allocated,” said an official at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration who asked not to be identified.

It is expected to cost 44 billion won for the first stage and 5 trillion won for full-scale development of the KFX. The KAH will cost about 19.2 billion won and 600 billion won for each stage.

Fighters that are slated to be built under the KFX are medium-level and a little more advanced than current F-16 fighters. New fighters will also be installed with state-of-the-art radar and computing systems.

Before entering the first phase of KAH development, the model of helicopter will be determined between February and June this year, the DAPA said. In addition, the basic plan mapped out a schedule to build unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) capable of fulfilling surveillance operations at 15 kilometers (49,212 feet) above ground beginning in 2012. The development of UAV that could fly below 15 kilometers is scheduled to be completed by 2011. Officials and experts agreed to consider manufacturing unmanned fighters after 2020.

Meanwhile, to assist the private air transportation business sector, the council agreed to select midsize passenger planes as strategic aircraft.

By Lee Min-yong, Kim Min-seok [smartpower@joongang.co.kr]

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전투기·공격헬기 너무 낡아 … 더 미룰 수 없다 판단

정부가 한국형 전투기(KFX)와 공격헬기(KAH)를 탐색 개발하기로 21일 결정한 것은 일단 군 수요를 맞추기 위한 것이다. 공군 전투기와 육군 공격헬기가 노후화해 더 이상 방치할 수 없는 상황이 됐다. 항공산업 육성과도 맞물려 있다. 한국이 한 단계 더 도약하려면 항공우주산업의 발전이 불가결하다. 한국형 전투기를 개발하면 한국도 전투기 개발국 대열에 들어간다. 전투기 개발·생산국은 미국·러시아·중국·프랑스 등 G8 국가와 거의 일치한다.

한국형 전투기가 양산되면 공군의 주력기가 될 것으로 보인다. 도입된 지 30년가량 되는 공군의 F-4와 F-5 전투기를 대체하게 된다. 군 당국은 당초 T-50 초음속 고등훈련기를 개발한 기술을 바탕 삼아 한국형 전투기를 레이더에 잡히지 않는 스텔스형(5세대)으로 개발하려고 했다. 그러나 스텔스 전투기는 개발 과정에서 기술적인 실패 가능성과 더불어 과도한 개발 및 생산 비용 등이 예상돼 포기했다. 대신 공군에 꼭 필요한 5세대형 스텔스 전투기는 소량을 해외에서 도입할 계획이다. 스텔스 전투기인 F-35(JSF)와 F-22 등이 대상이다.

방위사업청은 KFX 개발비로 5조원을 예상하고 있다. 개발되면 공군에 1차로 120대를, 추가로 130대 등 모두 250대를 공급할 계획이다. 1차 120대 생산에만 10조∼12조원이 들어갈 것으로 전문가들은 추정하고 있다.

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