F-35A vs KF-X

Yet another reply in which you argue what that is basically the same opinion as to mine. Are you doing so on purpose?
Didn't I just say that :
1) I'm skeptical towards the positive commercial outcome of the KF-X overseas
2) The possibility of it being a better deal than a legacy fighter like SH is going to be unlikely
3) Those possibilities largely depend on when the production of legacy fighters will end

Now if you're going to post yet another reply which basically draws the same line in a same direction to what I say, I can say nothing else but that it defeats the whole point of discussing something. Its very unproductive to argue the same thing just written in a slightly different manner don't you think?

Yes, I agree. Evidently I did not think we were on the same page. My most humble apologies.

It's not a big deal as long as we can stay in peace and have a constructive discussion
My posts are quite long as well, and I acknowledge that my English skills are still lacking.
Also knowing what those Su-57, TF-X and AMCA fanboys have done, I guess the whole forum is a bit under stress regarding any kind of new aircraft development program.

I wonder what the thing will look like and if they kept to its semi-stealthy design shown on early small scale display models...

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... on-461123/

Seoul has completed the critical design review (CDR) of the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-X fighter, setting the stage for the rollout of a prototype in the first half of 2021.
***
Work leading up to the CDR included wind tunnel tests, the refinement of systems, and analysis.

“In this detailed design review meeting, reviewers composed of government and civilian experts, including the Air Force, reviewed about 390 technical data [points] to ensure that the military requirements were properly reflected in the design,” says DAPA.
***
The achievement of the aircraft CDR follows the CDR of the aircraft’s active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar earlier this year. The prototype of the radar was developed by Hanhwa systems with assistance from Israel’s Elta Systems. ADD will help with airborne tests of the radar.

The KF-X will be powered by two General Electrics-built F414 engines, variants of which power the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Saab Gripen E.

I do not think that this aircraft is supposed to be a direct competitor to F-35 or other 5th gen designs out there. I do believe its semi-stealthy design (better observable stealth characteristics over current 4.5 or 4.5+ gen aircraft) would make it very appealing to other countries should this aircraft ever make it into production...

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... ed-461464/

Although the aircraft resembles Lockheed's F-35A, it lacks several of the US type’s stealth qualities. The port for its 20mm cannon is exposed, for example, and the infrared search and track (IRST) sensor protrudes in front of the cockpit canopy, similar to on the Typhoon.

More reading about the KF-X
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... it-461492/

Why make a Stealth Fighter only to carry external stores all of the time. That is like putting "lipstick on a pig"....

Why make a Stealth Fighter only to carry external stores all of the time. That is like putting "lipstick on a pig"....

They are planning on redesigning it with weapon bays later or something

Why make a Stealth Fighter only to carry external stores all of the time. That is like putting "lipstick on a pig"....

They are planning on redesigning it with weapon bays later or something

That is just as perplexing! Why not just develop the KFX with internal Weapon Bays from the start???

That thing is already in the F-22 size range. It is not a mid-size fighter, so no internalized bay is a ridiculous design.

South Korea’s future fighter program at risk, even as development moves along 15 Oct 2019 Jeff Jeong

https://www.defensenews.com/2019/10/15/ ... ves-along/

That thing is already in the F-22 size range. It is not a mid-size fighter, so no internalized bay is a ridiculous design.

Yes, what's the advantage of stealth. If, you must carry all of your weapons and part of your fuel externally??? Just doesn't make sense...

Why make a Stealth Fighter only to carry external stores all of the time. That is like putting "lipstick on a pig"....

They are planning on redesigning it with weapon bays later or something

That is just as perplexing! Why not just develop the KFX with internal Weapon Bays from the start???

I must say that what I just read here about this KF-X is for me a very negative WoW!

Yes, I agree with you. Such decision is perplexing indeed even because a "Block I" without internal weapons would IMO be a quite different aircraft compared to a potential "Block II" with internal weapons (since "adding" an internal weapons bay would involve massive airframe changes), this instead of a "potential Block II" being a more recent version of the "Block I".

But hey, it's their money (but IMO, still a very stupid decision nonetheless).

They are planning on redesigning it with weapon bays later or something

That is just as perplexing! Why not just develop the KFX with internal Weapon Bays from the start???

I must say that what I just read here about this KF-X is for me a very negative WoW!

Yes, I agree with you. Such decision is perplexing indeed even because a "Block I" without internal weapons would IMO be a quite different aircraft compared to a potential "Block II" with internal weapons (since "adding" an internal weapons bay would involve massive airframe changes), this instead of a "potential Block II" being a more recent version of the "Block I".

But hey, it's their money (but IMO, still a very stupid decision nonetheless).

The airframe changes are already there, structurally a belly IWB can be added. KAI (rightly) made a cost-saving decision to not design it yet and postpone all the work with designing ejectors, integrating weapons (CFD work, fit tests, flight tests), etc as they aren't being paid for it. Blame Korean MoD/Korean AF for their (bizarre) ROC that didn't require stealth in the first place if you want.

That thing is already in the F-22 size range. It is not a mid-size fighter, so no internalized bay is a ridiculous design.

Spot on!

And given the known engines it's going to use, it will be dramatically under-powered. Any amount of external stores is only going to exacerbate that. If they do switch to an internal bay, I can't imagine it'll carry much.

The only way this thing works is if it's VLO AND has some whizbang avionics. I have more confidence the Koreans can deliver on the latter vs. the former, but they'll need both to find a buyer. History shows not many countries are interested in buying something that's 2nd tier (or perceived as 2nd tier).

See Gripen

That thing is already in the F-22 size range. It is not a mid-size fighter, so no internalized bay is a ridiculous design.

Spot on!

And given the known engines it's going to use, it will be dramatically under-powered. Any amount of external stores is only going to exacerbate that. If they do switch to an internal bay, I can't imagine it'll carry much.

The only way this thing works is if it's VLO AND has some whizbang avionics. I have more confidence the Koreans can deliver on the latter vs. the former, but they'll need both to find a buyer. History shows not many countries are interested in buying something that's 2nd tier (or perceived as 2nd tier).

See Gripen

Is it? The KF-X has an empty weight and internal fuel capacity closer to the Legacy Hornet/Eurofighter/Rafale, and lower than the F-22A, F-15C/D or F-15E, F-18E/F. Twin F414s should be able to push the KF-X around decently albeit not as sportily as the F-16. F-18E/F does have a reputation for being somewhat underpowered but some of that has to do with design considerations (wieght for structural strength and wing planform for low speed AoA during landings) for carrier ops doesnt it? The internal bay is also not F-35 sized and won't have much for more than AAMs and the occasional SDB-1or2 so (kinematic) performance shouldn't be an issue.

Got this from a post on CDF. Original source per image. Looks familiar?

Comparing the given figures of the F-22 and F-35 to the KF-X, the KF-X appears to be closer to the F-35A in size. However the fuselage of the KF-X doesn't appear to be as "girthy" as the F-35A.