The Korean Aerospace reception room Ltd. is, in many ways, at each plane and each helicopter lover.
Filled with aircraft models, there is one in particular that stands out. At first glance, you would be forgiven for having confused him for the now politically infamous fighter – at least in Canadian terms – F -35.
The KF-21 Boramae (HAWK) has the same tilted twin tails and similar elegant lines. When he underlined, a main director of Kai considerably recognized the resemblance “furtive conception”.
If we believe all the rhetoric of the campaign and the stormy trade war, Canada can be on the market for something other than the F-35 manufactured in the United States.
We will see.
The Liberals openly threatened to accept the first 16 planes on order, then to seek elsewhere to fill the flight lines of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which for decades coveted the jets built in Lockheed Martin.
One of the reasons why the Air Force was in favor of the F-35 is because of its advanced capacities, in particular its sensors and its connectivity. One of the reasons why politicians fell is the huge price of $ 19 billion and the enormous cost of possession where most of the support in service should be done in the United States.
South Korea, like Canada, wants an advanced capacity. But the country set up more than 15 years ago to design and build its own new generation fighter, who, by coincidence – or perhaps not – ended up looking like the F -35.
There are important differences, namely that KF-21 has two engines, not one.
And Koreans had trouble integrating one of the main furtive characteristics of weapons transport – bombs and missiles – inside the plane, as opposed to wings.
Jason Ahn, Kai’s main director for North America, said the design folds had been drawn up and that the company now has six prototype planes. Most importantly, he began the complete production of jets for Korean Air Force and his Junior Nation Indonesia development partner.
Since the Liberal government reported that Canada could be ready to detach from the F-35, there has been a considerable debate in the online aviation community as to whether the KF-21 is a credible alternative. Opinions are mixed and the jury is still with regard to defense specialists.
The KF-21 was developed as part of an American project of $ 6.6 billion aimed at replacing the aging fleet of South Korea of F-4 and F-5 fighters, and it was presented as a “cheaper” alternative.
“KF-21 will be much cheaper than fourth generation first generation fighters,” AHN said in a recent interview with the company’s manufacturing plant in Sacheon, South Korea. “This plane has better maintainability designed from the exit, compared to other fifth generation fighters [such as the F-35] … We think we have more – or better – flexibility in terms of maintenance of the plane. “”
CBC News had access to the aerospace factory in the southern part of the country and saw the KF-21 in production and prototypes. But the South Korean security officials refused permission to take advanced photographs or video video, insisting that only the images of the company could be used.
Ahn said that a number of countries had approached South Korea to buy the plane, but he would not reveal who could be.
Kai did not participate in competition from Canada’s fighter planes, which ended up with the selection of the F-35 in 2022. Instead, he recently expressed his interest in providing Canada’s requirement to form planes by offering his other local design, T-50 Golden Eagle.
The company was impatient to talk about this land and present the light plane, which made its debut in 2002.
Hahn said one of the attractive characteristics of this jet is that it could be released to become a light combat aircraft if Canada needs to quickly widen the capacity of its air force in an emergency.
“The keyword is versatile and the FA-50 is capable not only on the plane coach side, but also on the mission side of the plane. It is able to carry out air missions with medium missiles and AESA radar, and also capable of air attack missions with sniper and Maverick and all this.”
The company never received an answer to its proposal at the end of last year and, therefore, it is not clear how it was received by the Ministry of Defense, which was consumed with the plan to introduce the F-35 and all the associated infrastructure revisions which accompany it.
Question of commitment to “do in Canada”
Are the KF-21 or T / FA-50 appropriate alternatives if Canada’s relationship with Washington is deteriorating more?
In the Defense Establishment of South Korea, there is a deep skepticism on the gravity of a re -elected liberal government or a new conservative government to diversify military purchases and trade.
Apprehension can be justified. Translections between Canada and the United States on a renewed trade agreement are expected to start in the first week of May.
On Monday, as the liberal leader Mark Carney pointed out A recycled plan to create a Canadian defense agencyHe was asked if his defense plan “made in Canada” would be sacrificed in the broader goal of ending the trade war with the United States and obtaining access to markets south of the border.
He did not answer the question directly.
“When you enter into negotiations, you need to know where you are. You need to know what you want. You have to be strong. You have to be clear. This is why we are setting up these policies. They are in the interest of Canada,” said Carney.
“They are in the interest of Canadian workers. They are in the interest of Canadian security. And therefore we will negotiate from a position of strength with the Americans.”
