Martin-Baker says the “Mk18 for KF-X is a similar seat to the one currently in competition for the US Air Force new trainer jet, the T-X.”

According Yonhap News, South Korea has completed the preliminary design review (PDR) of the KF-X fighter and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) plans to achieve critical design review (CDR) by September 2019.

“The PDR has been finished successfully to decide whether to proceed to a critical design review (CDR),” Jung Kwang-sun, head of the DAPA’s KF-X Program Group, said. “We plan to complete the detailed design process by September 2019 … and then begin the production of a prototype.”

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) aims to roll out the first KF-X prototype in 2021.

Noteworthy as we have reported in April, Martin-Baker’s Mk18 ejection seat has been selected by KAI for the KF-X fighter program.

Martin-Baker says the “Mk18 for KF-X is a similar seat to the one currently in competition for the US Air Force new trainer jet, the T-X.”

The Korea Aerospace Industries KF-X/Indonesian Aerospace IF-X is a joint South Korean and Indonesian program aimed to develop an advanced multirole fighter for the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU). The program is spearheaded by South Korea, holding 80% shares, and Indonesia, the primary partner, holding the remaining minority of 20% of the shares. The KAI KF-X is South Korea’s second domestic jet fighter development program, following the FA-50.

This article by Dario Leone originally appeared on The Aviation Geek Club in 2018.

Image: Wikimedia.