KAI to Begin Development of Korean Transport Aircraft

Air Force C-130H Hercules transport aircraft.

[Monthly Defense Times Editor-in-Chief An Seung-beom] Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is embarking on the development of a Korean-style transport aircraft. Since 1999, KAI has been advancing from Air Force trainers and Army helicopters to now nearing the completion of the Korean fighter jet KF-X prototype.

Following its entry into the trainer and helicopter markets, KAI is now on the verge of entering the fighter jet market and aims to challenge the transport and special mission aircraft markets next.

The idea of developing a Korean-style transport aircraft, which could serve as a platform for various support aircraft following the domestic fighter jet, was first proposed in the summer of 2020.

Currently, the military operates 36 transport aircraft, with plans to acquire 3 more in the near future.

The Air Force operates 8 special mission aircraft based on transport and passenger aircraft fuselages, the Navy operates 16, and the Coast Guard possesses 4 patrol aircraft converted from mid-sized transport aircraft.

KAI has declared its long-term plan to replace the next-generation transport and special mission aircraft of the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard with domestically produced models by developing a Korean-style transport aircraft.

KAI envisions the Korean-style transport aircraft in a basic model capable of carrying 20 tons over a range of 6,000 km, followed by an upgraded model capable of carrying 25 tons over a range of 8,000 km.

The Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules corresponds to the basic transport aircraft model KAI envisions and dominates the global market.

Brazil’s latest transport aircraft, the KC-390, has a payload of 25 tons and a range of about 6,000 km, while the C-130H-30 transport aircraft carries 17 tons over 8,000 km. The upgraded Korean-style transport aircraft aims for a 25-ton payload and an 8,000 km range.

The basic model will be designed as a turboprop, while the upgraded model will consider turbofan engines. Domestic demand for transport aircraft is estimated at around 40 units, with 60 special mission aircraft targeted, and overseas demand is expected to be about 100 units.

The total cost is estimated at 14 trillion KRW, including 3 trillion KRW for development and approximately 11 trillion KRW for mass production. Applying the development experience from the KF-X fighter jet, the timeline includes 5 years for requirement proposal, confirmation, preliminary research, project feasibility review, budget allocation, and contracting, followed by 7 years for system development, totaling 12 years.

This assumes a unit production cost of 80 billion KRW and production of 140 units for both domestic and international markets, based on 40 units domestically and 100 units internationally.

As of March 2021, progress includes explaining the project to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy since October 2020 and requesting the Defense Acquisition Program Administration to promote it as a national project. When the project enters a concrete phase, the Ministry of National Defense is expected to cover 60% of the total cost, with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy covering 40%.

Once the national project group for transport aircraft, following trainers, helicopters, and fighters, is formed, KAI plans to enter development as the system integrator, aiming to supply domestically procured transport aircraft before the expected retirement of the Air Force’s main transport aircraft, the C-130H/30 fleet of 12 units, by 2035.

The CN-235M transport aircraft, scheduled for retirement in 2040, is also a replacement target.

KAI plans to unveil a mock-up of the Korean-style transport aircraft at the Seoul ADEX event in October 2021 and is currently conducting conceptual design work. The KC-X concept shape to be revealed at the upcoming June ADEX event is expected to be finalized. Overseas partners are also being explored, with Airbus Military of Europe reportedly showing interest.