‘보라매’의 비상, 기술적 승리를 넘어 재정적 시험대에 서다 > K-wave Trends

The key to KF-21 is securing its own AESA radar technology. The fact that we have domestically produced active electronically scanned phased array radar technology, which has been monopolized by only a few military powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, has enormous geopolitical implications. This radar not only can detect and track multiple targets simultaneously, but also ensures strong survivability against enemy radio interference. Above all, the fact that independent software updates and electronic warfare modifications have become possible without the control of foreign companies is evaluated as substantially completing our military's sovereignty over the defense industry. This means that we go beyond simply making weapons and take the lead in sensor fusion and electromagnetic spectrum control capabilities, which are the core of the future battlefield.

It is a very symbolic event that the KF-21 prototype recently took on the escort mission of the operation to return the remains of fallen South Korean soldiers on June 25. The fact that a domestically produced fighter aircraft directly performs the national protocol missions previously performed by introduced models such as the F-15K is a signal to the public that the Boramae is ready to be fully incorporated into the Air Force's actual fighting force. Even though formal delivery has not yet been completed, putting it into use in these national events is a strategic choice that conveys the will for independent defense to the people and increases trust in our technology. This served as an opportunity for the KF-21 to be engraved in the public's mind as a practical guardian of Korea's skies beyond a simple test aircraft.

Boramae, which has completed technical verification and been judged ‘suitable for combat’, now faces a new task called ‘Block II’. It is essential to evolve beyond Block I, which focuses on air-to-air missions, into a multi-purpose fighter capable of striking land and sea targets. The Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee's recent resolution of an initial budget of 62.5 billion won for Block II mass production is an important turning point in that it revives the spark of the project. However, this is only the beginning of the entire project, and more complex and precise weapons integration tests and system construction await in the future, requiring a meticulous financial strategy at the national level to secure the budget.

Financial burden is the biggest realistic barrier that Boramae must overcome. The cost of mass producing 80 units has soared to 18 trillion won, more than 4 trillion won more than the previous estimate, due to rising prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and increased supply chain costs. As it is a huge project that includes not only airframe production but also maintenance system, pilot training, and base infrastructure expansion, it is necessary to thoroughly manage variables that may arise during deliberation by the National Assembly and annual budget allocation. The technology has already proven to be world-class through over 1,600 flight tests, but now the economic support for stable operation of the technology has emerged as a key variable that will determine the success or failure of the business.

The ‘KF-21EX’ concept, a blueprint for the future, is also something we must not miss. If Block II represents a transition to a multi-purpose fighter, strengthening stealth performance, mounting an internal weapons bay, and linking with the manned and unmanned combined combat system (MUM-T) are essential tasks to advance Boramae into a 5th generation platform. The reason why the Ministry of National Defense engages in public communication, such as by reinterpreting and promoting the sounds of cutting-edge military power through beatboxing, is to share with the public the importance of these cutting-edge defense capabilities. Boramae's evolution will not stop, and only when step-by-step electric power conversion is carried out stably will Korea be able to solidify its position as a true defense industry powerhouse.