[Defense Commentary] A Competitor for the Korean Fighter Jet Emerges

Turkey TF-X, Independent Development After Failed Joint Project with Korea... Operational Deployment from 2029

[Monthly Aviation Editor-in-Chief Kim Jae-han] Last April, the rollout of the domestically produced fighter jet KF-21 Boramae attracted the attention of the global defense industry. South Korea, which had never developed a fighter jet before, boldly unveiled a supersonic fighter. Following the high-performance advanced trainer, the introduction of a fighter jet created quite a stir.

Positive forecasts about the KF-21 continued. CNN, a global news channel from the United States, commented, “With the unveiling of the KF-21, South Korea has joined the elite group of supersonic fighter jet manufacturers,” adding that it “has considerable export potential.” The U.S.-based aerospace analysis firm The Teal Group also predicted that “South Korea will possess one of the most flexible and suitable fighters in the global fighter market.”

Meanwhile, there is another fighter jet drawing attention from the global defense industry. It is Turkey’s TF-X (Turkish Fighter-Experimental), a country often called our brother nation. It shares many similarities with the KF-21, including a similar appearance, the level of aerospace industry experience as a first-time fighter developer, and a power-up schedule that is only about three years apart. This is why the global defense industry is closely watching both the KF-21 and TF-X together.

▲Independent path after failed joint development with South Korea= Turkey, which began developing the TF-X in 2011, aimed to deploy it operationally by 2023, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. Around the same time, South Korea, which was promoting the KF-X project, suggested the need for international joint development, and since 2009, the two countries had been discussing the possibility of jointly developing a fighter jet. In particular, South Korea dispatched a working negotiation team to Turkey in 2012 and engaged in in-depth discussions on joint development.

At that time, Turkey’s motivation to partner with South Korea was to secure a new fighter jet through joint development and to sell its domestic defense products, such as the T-129 attack helicopter, to South Korea through offset trade. Additionally, sharing project costs was expected to significantly reduce expenses.

However, in 2012, a feasibility study on the KF-X development concluded that there was a lack of domestic technology and economic viability, which stalled the project. Consequently, Turkey decided in 2013 to develop the fighter jet independently and withdrew from the joint development. Later, in 2017, Turkey officially partnered with the UK’s BAE Systems, which had participated in the Eurofighter development.

▲Development as a 5th-generation fighter= Choosing the independent development route, Turkey is currently developing the TF-X as a 5th-generation fighter. This is a higher generation fighter compared to the 4.5-generation KF-21. As is well known, 5th-generation fighters are the highest-performance fighters currently in use, developed only by a few countries such as the United States, Russia, and China. This also means that development is very challenging.

Originally, Turkey planned to acquire the 5th-generation F-35 fighter from the United States. However, despite U.S. opposition, Turkey procured the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which has currently blocked the F-35 acquisition. Turkey was once a major partner in the F-35 program, producing key components, but is now effectively excluded from the program. This is why Turkey is prioritizing and intensifying efforts on the TF-X development.

According to the specifications released so far, the TF-X is slightly larger than the KF-21. The KF-21 measures 16.9 meters in length and 11.2 meters in wingspan, while the TF-X measures 19 meters and 12 meters respectively. This size is comparable to the F-22, considered the world’s most powerful fighter today.

Specific performance details have not been widely disclosed. However, based on Turkish local reports, the TF-X is a twin-engine fighter like the KF-21. It is expected to feature stealth shaping to reduce radar cross-section, internal weapons bays, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with excellent target detection capabilities, sensor fusion and advanced avionics to enhance pilot situational awareness, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities to operate alongside unmanned aerial vehicles?all key characteristics of a 5th-generation fighter. Approximately 6,000 engineers are reportedly involved in the development of this 5th-generation fighter.

One of the biggest current obstacles in TF-X development is the engine. Turkey plans to develop a domestic fighter engine by establishing joint ventures with foreign engine manufacturers such as the UK’s Rolls-Royce and the U.S.’s General Electric (GE). However, due to issues related to technology transfer and leakage, no agreement has been reached with these foreign companies, causing delays. If a suitable engine is not secured in time, the operational deployment schedule may be delayed.

▲A new competitor to the KF-21= According to plans, the TF-X will conduct its first flight in 2025 and begin operational deployment of 100 to 150 units starting in 2029. This schedule is about three years later than the KF-21, which is expected to be operational from 2026. The manufacturer, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), estimates the price at around 100 million U.S. dollars (approximately 111.5 billion KRW), about 31.5 billion KRW more expensive than the KF-21’s target price of 80 billion KRW.

Currently, the two fighters differ in generation, schedule, and price, but how the TF-X will affect the KF-21’s ambitions to enter the global fighter market remains to be seen. Of course, meticulous responses to such variables are essential in the fiercely competitive fighter market.