Information of TTFLY: The radar will be developed by the country’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD), with the first prototype ready in the second half 2020, says Seoul’s Defense Acquisition and Procurement Administration.

DAPA foresees six years of development, with the new radar to be ready for deployment in 2026.

The ADD will develop the radar in conjunction with Hanhwa Thales, which won a competitive tender for the project in early 2016. The main contractor for the KFX programme is Korea Aerospace Industries.

Seoul’s decision to develop the radar at home follows Washington DC’s decision not to grant Seoul an export licence for the technology in 2015.

Export licences were also denied for infrared search and track, electro-optical target tracking devices, and jammers.

South Korea is developing the KFX in conjunction with Indonesia, a 20% partner in the programme. Seoul could eventually obtain 120 examples of the aircraft, and Indonesia 80.

The KFX will be powered by two General Electric F414 engines.