Korea Aerospace Industries display latest development of helicopter and fighter aircraft.

At ExpoDefensa 2021, KAI Korea Aerospace Industries display the latest development of helicopter, supersonic advanced jet trainers, and light combat aircraft as well as the KF-21, formerly known as KF-X, a new generation of advanced multirole fighter.

KAI exhibits scale models of KUH Multipurpose Utility Helicopter, the FA-50 Multi-Role Light Combat Aircraft and the KF-21 new multirole fighter aircraft. (Picture source Army Recognition)

At ExpoDefensa 2021, International Defense and Security Exhibition in Colombia, Korea Aerospace Industries promotes its KUH Multipurpose Utility Helicopter, the FA-50 Multi-Role Light Combat Aircraft, and the KF-21 new multirole fighter aircraft.

The FA-50 is the combat variant of the T-50 advanced jet trainer aircraft equipped with new radar and armed with missiles and machine gun. The combat aircraft is intended to meet the light fighter requirements of air forces around the world. The advanced radar provides the FA-50 jet with detection capability, which is similar to that of the KF-16 fighter.

Citing the Airforce-technology website, the FA-50 aircraft can carry a weapons load of up to 4.5t. The aircraft can be armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles, AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground tactical missiles (AGM), GBU-38/B Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), CBU-105 Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW), Mk-82 Low Drag General Purpose (LDGP) bombs, and Cluster Bomb Units (CBUs).

The aircraft is also mounted with an internal, three-barrel 20mm Gatling gun and LAU-3/A 19-tube 2.75″ rocket launcher for firing Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR). The wide range of weapon systems aboard the FA-50 jet allows it to counter multiple threats in today’s complex battlefield scenario.

The KAI KUH is a twin-engine, transport utility helicopter developed primarily by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) jointly with Eurocopter. It can perform various duties and roles, such as military transport, law enforcement, aerial observation, search and rescue, maritime support, aerial firefighting, and for civilian purposes along with other missions.

On April 2021, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) officially unveiled the prototype of Korea's first homegrown fighter jet KF-21, marking a significant development in the country's two-decade-long endeavor to boost its self-reliant air defense capabilities.

The KF-21 (Next-Generation Fighter) program is a full-scale fighter development program, set to introduce an outstanding aircraft for future battlefields. The development program is set to last for a total of 10 years and 6 months, and is designed as an international joint development with Indonesia.

Scale model of KAI KF-21 fighter aircraft. (Picture source Army Recognition)