Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) unveiled South Korea's first homegrown fighter jet prototype, the KF-21 Boramae. The US testing supplier Calspan conducted a series of tests for KAI by utilising the companies 8' X 8' continuous flow variable density transonic wind tunnel, located in Buffalo, New York. Calspan provided KAI with complex testing services essential to developing the KF-21. The wind tunnel team focused on stability/control, including free-to-roll, inlet optimisation, air data calibration, and weapons separation data required to develop this aircraft.
"Calspan congratulates Korea Aerospace Industries on this exciting achievement. Over the last five years, Calspan engineers, technicians, mechanics, and electricians conducted more than 3000 hours of transonic wind tunnel testing for KAI," said Peter Sauer, CEO of Calspan Holdings.
The KF-21 Boramae is a multirole fighter aircraft. The first test flight for the KF-21 is anticipated in 2022, with manufacturing scheduled to begin in 2026.
KF-X is one of Korea's most important national projects to replace current air force fighters and introduce the next generation fighter that can satisfy the future operation concept of force battlefield. Also, KAI is under localisation of major avionics part for product improvement by domestic technology. Mission and flight control computer, equivalent to its brain, will be installed to KF-X for ground test and test flight after performance test this year.
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