More or less, though it’s best to think of it as a “maybe” imo, because it’s not a formal order, much less delivery of a single unit. Rafale is more likely because their first units have just arrived.
I think it’s the best option because I thought there was a leak where we will have 5th gen like USA vs superior missiles like Germany. Japan can fit in the 5th gen category
Odd, considering the KF-21 has bee seen carrying 4 Meteors? What do you mean by since they don’t have missiles that match meteors? Unless you mean in it’s current tech tree. F-2A has AAM-5’s which I believe are IRIS-T equivalents iirc. Maybe I’m wrong, beside, the Thailand Gripen-E should get Meteors when they do get added anyways.
Side note though, some images of KF-21 I believe prototype 6 mounting some kind of AGM/Cruise missile.
Well, the KF-21 is a 4.5 gen in its current iteration, more akin to Rafale or Eurofighter. Though Japan has F-35s.
Ohhhhhh yeah I forgot about that. Yeah that complicates things. But I think they should just add the kf21 but no meteors same missiles as f22 since it’s pretty similar to the f22 and. To my understanding no Japanese f15 or f2 can carry meteors. Idk if Thailand and Malaysia can carry meteors but not too my understanding
From what I’ve seen the prototype transfer was never officially cancelled, only third parties making assumptions.
There was some talk after the renegotiation about Indonesia wanting to instead get a twin seat prototype instead of 005, so this could be the reason there is nothing final known yet.
That would be KALCM, it’s a cruise missile that should be under development based on architecture from the Taurus Cruise missile. It’s not due for completion until the early 2030s.
I’m talking about the period before f35 comes
Long dev time for a missile variant of one already in active service. I wonder if under circumstances they could just give it it’s expected performance and add it to the game just as they did with the KH-38MT
It’s very fluid at the moment, yeah. It’s very possible to renegotiate transfer of 005 or of a different prototype. At the moment all that’s somewhat solidified is the intent to acquire 16 Block IIs.
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Ah, I see. Then I would assume Rafale if Meteors, or staying with the F-2 if it’s only IIR.
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All that’s been undergone are a few separation tests with F-4s and FA-50s in flight. KF-21 at the moment has only received dummy ejection tests. Though service is supposedly planned for early 2030s, active production should begin in a couple of years.
A later response, but I wanted to correct my previous response. At the moment there simply doesn’t appear to be a MAWS on the KF-21 alongside the RWR operating in C~J band. As suspected the original documented plans changed in this aspect. The Block 2 supposes introduction of added sensors allowing detection into Ku-band. Coinciding with Block 3 developments is a supposed thorough infrared sensor array.
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check my post, those are images from a photographer, but next to the intake is that not one of the MAWS sensors?
You can’t really tell if it’s a maws or rwr antenna from that pic alone.
You would need a really nice high quality close up pic to really tell
Every bulb on the KF-21 is an RF jammer. RWR is installed on the wings. A MAWS, or rather as referred to in DAPA documents, a MWR is being developed in conjunction with a DIRCM system, as such there’s currently none installed on the KF-21. These developments aren’t due for completion until the end of the 2020s. Although, it does possess a form of sensor fusion to detect and then jam incoming detected radar missiles.
As can be seen on publicized EW Suite documents, these are the bulbs on the KF-21:
From DAPA documents regarding research on a MWR and DIRCM for improving aircraft survivability:
Spoiler
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only 70? thats concerning
Due to the limitations of other fixed plate AESA in-game, ±70° is quite standard. KF-21 doesn’t integrate a swashplate.
This aged a bit
I’d say that in lack of K-band detection or MAWS, KF-21s should be fine. Even in the current GRB environment of multiple Pantsirs and ADATS, planes lacking both of these systems still perform CAS fine. It would require more care to use for sure. And it seems to be only lock on that’s undetectable, so the pings on RWR should still be present, iirc.
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