KF-21 is in production and ROK has launched a programme to develop an indigenous engine for it;. Deliveries of KF-21 are scheduled to start in 2026.
With the arrival of 1 (or 2?) more prototypes in 2025, TAI KAAN flight testing is expected to start in earnest this year with initial deliveries of the production aircraft expected 2028/2029. A licence production deal with Pakistan is looking imminent. Work is underway on designing an indigenous engine for KAAN.
Su-75 is nearing design completion but shows no signs of ever progressing into production.
What progress has been made with AMCA? I'm not talking of what future fantasies there are for the aircraft. I'm talking about what solid progress has been made.
> Building TD/prototype is supposed to be top secret activity, especially when building new jet/components. NGAD protoype is said to have been flown few years back but still no official photo, diagram of the jet or its components. At max we say that it looks like a delta & flew with XA-100/101 VCE engines. What did we know about B-21 before roll-out & flight? What about GCAP, FCAS, MiG-41?
> AMCA's metal cutting happened in 2022, so it'll be a secret period till its roll-out & flight. IMO this is emergency period for us so we need to test as many features as possible in least amount of prototypes.
> On different forums including this, there are threads for DRDO & PSUs where you might get good info.
> But there are 1000s of parts in a modern jet, some are generic, some are specific & secret.
Rest everything is guess, speculation, extrapolation.
- 2 gens in theory cannot have too much parts commonality otherwise they cant be said to be different gen.
- Different gen &/or geometry means different aerodynamics means different FCS.
- There are very few parts which are independent of gen or can be MLUed back currently like ejecton seat, cockpit displays, switch/button panels, HMDS, OBOGS, ECS, landing gear, actuators, battery, starter/generator, some sensors, etc.
- Every part cannot be MLUed back bcoz it simply doesn't fit or incompatible tech specs.
DoD/Manufacturer has to reveal what part goes into which platform. For example some common & specific parts for F-35 JSF:
There are many other slides & diagrams like above for different platforms.
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After unparalleled R&D on F-22, F-117, B-2, B-21, if S.Korea makes KF-21 w/o IWB, exposed surface bumps & gaps, external pods, bulb RWRs, blade antennas, etc, then
from pure tech PoV it is not a good example at all.
However, S.Korea faces continious threat from N.Korea, China, Russia, hence it decided to produce incomplete KF-21 in emergency, apart from importing 40 F-35A delivered + 25 ordered. Future KF-21 will be complete 5/5.5gen.
But till then this doesn't change science fact that incomplete one'll face higher threats from improved enemy radars, missiles, jets, compared to complete KF-21.
We're also facing Chinese threat & diminishing squadron bcoz of which LCA & MWF are made.
But neither of them since 1990 till now in 35 years have been given stealth geometry. And TEDBF is also going to suffer. If AMCA Mk1 also turns out to be like incomplete KF-21 then there could be big social turmoil in the country.
Russian MiG-35 is different jet than MLUed MiG-29, with composite skin & under the skin, but
it does not change science fact that it can't satisfy 5gen & 6gen characteristics. Same thing with Su-35 compared to all previous versions back till Su-27 & Su-35 Vs Su-57.
IDK what is future of Su-57, but the Sukhoi guys designing 1-engine stealthy Su-75 is in right direction for 5gen jet consuming nations. IDK what MiG guys will do in this segment.
But there will be MiG-41 which is quoted to be high supersonic, high altitude Interceptor. IDK if it can be called 6gen yet.
TFX/Kaan definitely seems to be moving well ahead.
