[HOT] KFX hits IOC in 2020. Incremental upgrade to full stealth.
KFX hits IOC in 2020, sooner than expected. Incremental upgrade to full stealth.http://www.aboutweapons.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/KAI-KF-X-01.jpg
KFX roadmap was unveiled by the government.
KFX enters full developmental status in 2013 and the first prototype will be flying in 2018, IOC by 2020. This is a much more aggressive schedule than expected.
The decision was made to go for the eventual full stealth, so it will look like a stealth fighter externally from the onset but won't be declared a stealth fighter in initial batch because there are other issues to resolve to achieve full stealth like emissions control and LPI mode, with the full stealth status declared in the later batch. They probably decided to take this incremental approach because they desperately need new fighters to replace F-4/F-5s ASAP and can't wait for full stealth from the beginning.
The government officials already visited Lockheed Martin for technical assistance negotiation and will be negotiating with Boeing soon, and outcome of $9 billion FX-3 contest depends on who is the "most helpful". This puts Boeing and the Silent Eagle at a major advantage over F-35, because Boeing was historically more willing to help out than Lockheed Martin was.
http://news.mk.co.kr/v3/view.php?sc=30000001&cm=%ED%97%A4%EB%93%9C%EB%9D%BC%EC%9D%B8&year=2011&no=629021&relatedcode=&sID=300
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