Expanding on the release of details of the new “EX” version of the KF-21 fighter that will equip the South Korean Air Force, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has revealed that the aircraft’s design will feature an internal weapons bay, which would be capable of carrying at least one 2,000-pound guided bomb. This is an important development for the variant of the aircraft specifically planned for strikes against ground targets, as it allows it to increase the amount of armament it can carry without sacrificing its low-observability features.
The news in question was announced on July 28 in the city of Daejeon, during a South Korean Air Force conference, where KAI itself presented the series of improvements planned for the KF-21’s design. In particular, reference is made to the presentation titled “KF-21 Performance Improvement and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) Combat System”, in which the company laid out the most detailed roadmap so far regarding the aforementioned improvements, continuing from the line of development that originated with the conceptual work published last year.
Delving deeper into the details presented, the internal weapons bay stands out as the most significant feature observed on the aircraft, which would have the capacity to store various types of weaponry to expand the KF-21EX’s strike capabilities, especially against bunkers and other reinforced ground positions. This would include MBDA-made Meteor BVR air-to-air missiles, LIG Nex1’s long-range missile, GBU-39 type bombs, and what are expected to be new 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAM bombs.
In that regard, South Korean industry officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the expanded capabilities provided by this internal bay will allow the deployment of heavy weaponry to be concentrated on the KF-21EX, reducing the load on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) platforms that are still under development and will accompany South Korean fighters in the future. As such, the institution’s plan would be for the CCAs to be limited to a role of degrading enemy defenses while contributing to the pilot’s situational awareness—something that requires a higher degree of interconnectivity with the fighter than would be possible in its original design.
Finally, it is worth noting that, in line with the intention to reduce the radar cross-section of the KF-21 fighter, the EX version will receive a newly redesigned canopy and a radome with enhanced stealth qualities. It will also integrate a new EOTS, an improved electronic warfare suite, and the option to incorporate an AI-compatible mission computer, complemented by DRFM-type decoys. Overall, South Korean analysts agree that with this upgrade package, KAI seeks to bring its fighter as close as possible to being considered a fifth-generation aircraft.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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