KF-24 Huinmae
| KF-24 Huinmae | |
|---|---|
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| KF-24 Huinmae flies over Daegu city. | |
| Role | Multirole combat aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Daesung Aerospace,. Inc. |
| Introduction | 8 August 2017 |
| Status | In service |
| Produced | 2014-Present |
The Daesung Aerospace KF-24 Huinmae is a single-seat, single-engine, stealth multirole combat aircraft designed for air superiority and strike missions. it also has electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Daesung Aerospace is the prime F-35 contractor and manufacturer. Hanwha Aerospace was responsible for the aircraft's engine manufacturing and installation.
Development
The KF-24 originated from the HETF-2 project, a project to develop multirole stealth fighter jets that can be used in a wider variety of missions. The new aircraft had to be affordable compared to the KF-23, but could be equipped with a variety of air-to-surface weapons and an appropriate level of air-to-air weapons. Like the KF-23, the Navy wanted the KF-24 to have the capability to take off and land on the CATOBAR aircraft carrier.
The prototype of the KF-24 successfully completed its first flight in 2014, and 10 more prototype aircraft were built by 2015. To make up for the combat power vacuum during the KF-24's development, the Air Force and Navy introduced F-35 fighter jets, but the quantity was never large.
The KF-24 began deploying to the Air Force and Navy in 2017 without any particular trouble or difficulties. Currently, KF-24 maintains a production line, and FMS contracts and competitive bidding for exports are permitted on a limited basis.