KF-21 performed first flight in July 2022.
SEOUL, SINGAPORE—Polish military prime PGZ is hoping to participate in the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 fighter program, possibly in the development of a new variant.
PGZ could manufacture parts in Poland as well as market the KF-21 in Europe, CEO Sebastian Chwałek told South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo in an interview.
There is no formal agreement between Seoul and Warsaw yet. A Polish Air Force official echoed a similar sentiment to Chwałek when speaking to Aerospace DAILY at South Korea’s Sacheon Airshow in October 2022, saying Poland had submitted a request for information on the KF-21.
KAI and South Korea’s arms procurement agency DAPA declined to comment on the interview.
PGZ is part of the $3 billion deal for 48 KAI FA-50PLs. The Polish company will be constructing a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for Poland’s fleet of the light combat aircraft.
International participation was a key factor during initial development of the KF-21, in the hopes that bringing other countries in could lower development and production costs of the the 4.5-generation fighter as well as secure potential export customers. Aerospace DAILY understands that DAPA had hoped Indonesia, Turkey and the UAE could share the costs of the aircraft. Only Indonesia took up the offer, promising to bear 20% of the program cost.
Indonesia has yet to make full payment on the first $61 million, reports say. The fifth prototype KF-21 was designated to be handed over to Indonesia, but that did not happen when it rolled out from KAI’s facility in late November. The aircraft emerged without the Indonesian flag painted on it, a sign the partnership is not be progressing as well as initially hoped.
Speaking to Aerospace DAILY, a South Korean military analyst says that despite PGZ’s interest, Poland is unlikely to deviate from its F-16 and F-35 fleet plan, although Warsaw would be interested in getting its hands on South Korea’s CheonRyoung subsonic stealth cruise missile and hypersonic air-to-surface Hycore missile.
