Will Joint Development of Sixth-Generation Fighter Jets with Middle Eastern Countries Gain Momentum [Yang Nakkyu's Defence Club]

Fighter Jet Export Talks During President Lee's Visit to the UAE
K-Defense Exports Could Boost Next-Generation Fighter Jet Development

President Lee Jaemyung's visit to the Middle East is expected to accelerate the joint development of sixth-generation fighter jets. Upon his arrival in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), President Lee plans to strengthen defense industry cooperation, with the top priority being the export of the Korean-made 4.5-generation stealth fighter jet, the KF-21. If the UAE decides to adopt the KF-21, the possibility of jointly developing sixth-generation fighter jets with Middle Eastern countries will increase significantly.

Yonhap News Agency

The UAE has shown strong interest in acquiring the KF-21. The country previously attempted to procure the American F-35 and the Chinese J-20 stealth fighters but ultimately abandoned those plans. In April of this year, a UAE Air Force delegation led by Major General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense, boarded a KF-21 prototype to experience its performance firsthand. This was the first time a commander from a third country participated in a test flight aboard a KF-21 prototype. The price of the KF-21 is around 100 billion won, which is about 70-80% of the cost of comparable fighters such as the F-35. The defense industry expects that the maximum contract value for KF-21 fighter jets exported to the UAE could reach approximately 16 billion dollars.

If the UAE adopts the KF-21, it will also become easier to collaborate with neighboring Middle Eastern countries on sixth-generation fighter jet development. The Korean government has been proposing a sixth-generation fighter jet concept plan to Saudi Arabia and pushing for joint development. The government has emphasized that development time can be significantly reduced by basing the project on the KF-21. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter through Block-3 performance upgrades and to create a sixth-generation manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) system.

If sixth-generation fighter jets are developed, Hanwha Aerospace is expected to play a bridging role. Hanwha Aerospace established a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this year. The first head of the office is President Sung Il, a retired major general. President Sung previously served as Director General for Defense Resources at the Ministry of National Defense and led the joint development of sixth-generation fighter jets with Saudi Arabia. Based on this experience, Hanwha Aerospace is determined to take charge of localizing fighter jet engines.

A government official stated, "Saudi Arabia's adoption of the domestically produced medium-range surface-to-air interceptor missile Cheongung-II (M-SAM 2) demonstrates high confidence in Korean defense products," adding, "Joint development of sixth-generation fighter jets is also expected to proceed smoothly."