This thing was posted early last month on the “modern military aviation” board and I’ve got suggestions to post this on a dedicated post (Thanks to TomcatViP)
Below this is almost a copy and paste of what I’ve wrote on the other thread.

First, I will introduce u guys about a recent groundbreaking result of ADD’s R&D on plasma, which is, a flexible electrode and its application, a Wearable Plasma Fabric – its always something wearable or elastic these days ヾ(´∀｀○)ﾉ – or a WAPP(Wearable Atmospheric Pressure Plasma) fabric, which is a gas supplier independent system, therefore doesn’t needs a gas supplier to supply Argon or Helium unlike the legacy plasma producing electrodes in order to create plasma.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]252921[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]252922[/ATTACH]

As you can see here, the electrode necessary to create a plasma from the atmosphere is in a flexible fabric form.
Until now, it was seen impossible to create a 3 dimensional electrode but only a simple shaped flat-surfaced ones.

Anyways, there are are various possible application of this WAPP such like wearable plasma anti NBC protective suit or detoxification blanket against hydro-soluble chemical weapons and so on.

fig.2) dissection of plasma blanket – abstract from “100 new major patents of ADD ver. 2016”

fig.3) weaving of WAPP and fig.4) possible applications – abstract from “100 new major patents of ADD ver. 2016”

Now, plasma, apart from its various useful characteristics, also acts like a very effective RAM, absorbing electromagnetic waves of an incomparable bandwidths/wavelengths with even higher energy. Applied on an aircraft, one may achieve a lower radar signature even compared to those 5th gen design without current aerodynamic-unfriendly stealth profiles but in a rather conventional and “more aerodynamic” 4th gen form.
Apart from plasma stealth, it is also known able to control the flow of a fluid through use of plasma, which means an unstable and unwanted flow of air caused by IWB or any other compartments of the aircraft can also be controlled by the plasma created by WAPP, stabilizing the flow and more over, improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft without major structural change.

For now, the plasma stealth technology will only be applied on vital parts for decreasing the RCS, such like IWB of the KFX.

abstract from “core technology priority planning for national defense (ver. 2017)”. part in red box reads : IWB RCS reduction technology through use of plasma”

“Study of Aerodynamic Drag Reduction Using Plasm Flow Control” – 2012

“Flow Actuation by Plasma Actuator With Different DC Discharges” – 2015

Well, above studies doesn’t emphasize the usage of WAPP due to the fact that those have been written before WAPP was revealed, though there are already research programs going on such like “flow control system using 3 dimensional surface discharge”

In page 48, it states that WAPP can create plasma state oxygen and nitrogen. fig.1) shows the legacy atmospheric pressure plasma generator and its application, namely : [(dielectric barrier discharge and downstream processing), (Corona discharge and In-Situ processing of wafers), (plasma torch and In-Situ processing of textiles) and (atmospheric pressure plasma jet and medical sterilization & decontamination)]. As one may see, those legacy APP generators are not suitable for aircraft application and like what I said on the top, needs a gas supplier to supply necessary gases like Argon or Helium in order to create plasma.

In page 49 part 3, it states that WAPP’s TRL will reach level 5 by September this year, so there are long way to go for WAPP to reach TRL-9 but KFX still needs around 8 years to get fully developed so time-wise, there ain’t no problem regarding it. In part 4 are the listed further R&D programs and the possible application.

Its been applied for a international patent in the US and Germany so if you have interest on it, you may search for it few months later when it gets registered as a PCT patent.

Overall, unlike shady plasma stealth technology of PAK-FA which is still in the dark in the ocean of rumors, ADD has revealed quite a lot of information regarding the plasma stealth technology using WAPP which is to be applied on KFX. I guess DAPA may use this as a jack on their hands to get more out of the US like sensor fusion technologies as an offset for exchanging technologies. Well, that’s what Japan did in the 20th century developing FS-X or F-2 so why not Korea?

P.S – I’ve posted this also on the other forum and copied it here so if you find this post somewhere else, that’ss probably written by me.

Korea has different kind of GDP than Russia. Korean population is buried under debt and will go further under debt if they pull the limited engineering talent they produce into non productive sectors like building fighter plane.On other hand Russia can freely spend as much it wants.

What do you mean by different kind of GDP? Different currency due to some recent events? Different industries? What so ever it is, I personally think Korea still has a better fiscal sustainability/health than Russia now days, whose main industry is natural resources unlike Korea. Well it would have been a big problem if there were the next oil shock/crisis to come in a year or two but that ain’t the case now and for the near future. In fact Russia is undergoing reduction of military budget from this year and will continue for the next several years.

Thus even though Korean citizen are under debt, that is not the only case of Korea but all around the world thanks to subprime-mortgage crisis 9 years ago and European citizen along the former American middle-class are going though same kind of difficulties. Moreover, governmental debt is really low in Korea, being only around 35~ 8% of GDP and still around 68 % of GDP when all the debts of public/government enterprises and institutions are putted into account. The households debt of 2017 is around $ 40600 per economically active population and is half of that when the debt is divided by all the population capable of economically over the age of 15. So it needs some help from appropriate gov. policy but ain’t as serious as the nuance of what you’ve wrote.

Why is spending money an issue?

Unlike Turkey, South Korea has a GDP larger than Russia and Russia has no problem spending money on advanced weapon systems. The thing ROK lacks is long-term experience in building advanced weapons.

Well, the thing is, in the 3rd F-X, Korea wasn’t even able to afford initially planned 60 aircraft due to the high cost of F-35 and was only able to get 40. Also, it is waay easier to get the defense budget approved when your buying a domestic product, due to the fact that congressmen usually prefers a domestic product that can create jobs, develop advanced technology, prevents the outflow of foreign currency, protect the domestic industry, etc. over a foreign product.

Something strikes me about the Korean/Indonesian, Indian, Turkish projects 5G projects. They all need TOT and because they are different projects, there will be multiple payments for TOT. There is a constraint on development costs for all these projects. I hear a report that the Turkish military is not enthusiastic about the Turkish project, being concerned that it will take up too much of the military budget. Cost overruns are the norm for these types of project. It would be sad if some of these projects were delayed by many, many years or even eventually abandoned due to lack of funding. Would it not have been more sensible to agree a useable (ideal for none) design and to build it together.

I expect the response saying that it would not meet the specifications of the different armed forces but overall I think that compromising on specifications to save money actually increases the capability of an armed force because other equipment that could not be afforded within the budget becomes affordable.

Well, Spitfir9, your perspective on these projects are quite correct but let me give u some further information for better understandings.

First off, KF-X ain’t a fully capable F-35 or F-3 alike 5th gen fighter development program but something in between the legacy 4.5th gen fighters and the 5th gen, I’ll name it a 4.5th gen+ (TBH, I don’t like using and seeing this “4.5+ gen” or “4.75” thingy, thanks to Russian folks who are so obsessed labeling their fighters 4.75th gen or 4.5th++ gen and so on, though IMHO for the KF-X this term suits perfectly). The Block.3 KF-X will replace the obsolete F-5s. What they aim to do is to upgrade the KF-X after Block.3 into something like Block.4(which doesn’t even exist in the moment) 5th gen KF-X in the 2030s to replace F-16PBs and KF-16s.

I’m actually quite sure the AMCA will fail for the Indians like their Tejas and so do the TFX of the Turks, who aims to buy 100 F-35s, has way less money than Korea and a technology nothing better than Korea’s late 2000s. In fact the Turks already had much problems designing the turboprop Hurkus, leading to extra WoongBi purchase from Korea.
Actually, before deciding to stick on their own with some help from SAAB and BAE, there were some discussion across Koreans and Turks for co-development in KF-X program, though the Turks were unsatisfied with their share in KF-X program and went indigenous. Also, the initial concept of TFX was just the same as FA-50; to build a supersonic trainer/fighter so a combat capable LIFT. This got changed some how afterwards and become the 5th gen fighter development of today.

Anyways, talking about the funding, at least KF-X wouldn’t have such problem; not saying this with an irrational rosy optimistic perspective but a fact. The fact that ROKAF is only left with KF-X for the near future, let’s say, till mid 2030s. ROKAF cannot afford to do anything else if the KF-X fails. Their fighter fleet will collapse to 260 from something near 460. If the costs doubles or whatsoever, ROKAF would still be forced to continue the KF-X program, just like the JSF for USAF; choice is something that doesn’t exists.

In comparison to Korea, who needs to face a crazy maniac with nukes and subs on the North, sponsor of this maniac on the West across the sea, a bear on the further North without any nukes inland, Turks and Indians have a waaay better situation. All their close neighbours are less capable than them, thus they are already gonna deploy other kind of assured 5th gen fighters in numbers unlike Korea, who was only able to buy 40 F-35s with the initial budget planned to buy 60 aircrafts, thus would only be able to buy 20 additional F-35s which is in plan. Therefore, once more to be clear, KF-X is now irreversible and irreplaceable and will be forced to go through any kind of difficulties.

Plasma application on KF-X

k, now comes the interesting part and thus the sole motivation that made me start this thread : the plasma stealth and flow control with help of plasma.

First, I will introduce u guys about a recent groundbreaking result of ADD’s R&D on plasma, which is, a flexible electrode and its application, a Wearable Plasma Fabric – its always something wearable or elastic these days ヾ(´∀｀○)ﾉ – or a WAPP(Wearable Atmospheric Pressure Plasma) fabric, which is a gas supplier independent system, therefore doesn’t needs a gas supplier to supply Argon or Helium unlike the legacy plasma producing electrodes in order to create plasma.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251824[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251841[/ATTACH]

As you can see here, the electrode necessary to create a plasma from the atmosphere is in a flexible fabric form.
Until now, it was seen impossible to create a 3 dimensional electrode but only a simple shaped flat-surfaced ones.

Anyways, there are are various possible application of this WAPP such like wearable plasma anti NBC protective suit or detoxification blanket against hydro-soluble chemical weapons and so on.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251842[/ATTACH]
fig.2) dissection of plasma blanket – abstract from “100 new major patents of ADD ver. 2016”

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251843[/ATTACH]
fig.3) weaving of WAPP and fig.4) possible applications – abstract from “100 new major patents of ADD ver. 2016”

Now, plasma, apart from its various useful characteristics, also acts like a very effective RAM, absorbing electromagnetic waves of an incomparable bandwidths/wavelengths with even higher energy. Applied on an aircraft, one may achieve a lower radar signature even compared to those 5th gen design without current aerodynamic-unfriendly stealth profiles but in a rather conventional and “more aerodynamic” 4th gen form.
Apart from plasma stealth, it is also known able to control the flow of a fluid through use of plasma, which means an unstable and unwanted flow of air caused by IWB or any other compartments of the aircraft can also be controlled by the plasma created by WAPP, stabilizing the flow and more over, improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft without major structural change.

For now, the plasma stealth technology will only be applied on vital parts for decreasing the RCS, such like IWB of the KFX.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251844[/ATTACH]
abstract from “core technology priority planning for national defense (ver. 2017)”. part in red box reads : IWB RCS reduction technology through use of plasma”

“Study of Aerodynamic Drag Reduction Using Plasm Flow Control” – 2012

“Flow Actuation by Plasma Actuator With Different DC Discharges” – 2015

Well, above studies doesn’t emphasize the usage of WAPP due to the fact that those have been written before WAPP was revealed, though there are already research programs going on such like “flow control system using 3 dimensional surface discharge”

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251825[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]251825[/ATTACH]
(click to enlarge)

In page 48, it states that WAPP can create plasma state oxygen and nitrogen. fig.1) shows the legacy atmospheric pressure plasma generator and its application, namely : [(dielectric barrier discharge and downstream processing), (Corona discharge and In-Situ processing of wafers), (plasma torch and In-Situ processing of textiles) and (atmospheric pressure plasma jet and medical sterilization & decontamination)]. As one may see, those legacy APP generators are not suitable for aircraft application and like what I said on the top, needs a gas supplier to supply necessary gases like Argon or Helium in order to create plasma.

In page 49 part 3, it states that WAPP’s TRL will reach level 5 by September this year, so there are long way to go for WAPP to reach TRL-9 but KFX still needs around 8 years to get fully developed so time-wise, there ain’t no problem regarding it. In part 4 are the listed further R&D programs and the possible application.

Its been applied for a international patent in the US and Germany so if you have interest on it, you may search for it few months later when it gets registered as a PCT patent.

Overall, unlike shady plasma stealth technology of PAK-FA which is still in the dark in the ocean of rumors, ADD has revealed quite a lot of information regarding the plasma stealth technology using WAPP which is to be applied on KFX. I guess DAPA may use this as a jack on their hands to get more out of the US like sensor fusion technologies as an offset for exchanging technologies. Well, that’s what Japan did in the 20th century developing FS-X or F-2 so why not Korea?

P.S – I’ve posted this also on the other forum and copied it here so if you find this post somewhere else, that’ss probably written by me.

ay folks! Newbie here, first time posting on keypublishing forum.

Guess this KF-X thread has been abandoned for quite a while. Well, tbh, there are lots of other things to discuss about which is either more interesting or important or both of ’em than talkig about something related to KF-X. Anyways, I’ve found out several threads regarding KF-X in keypublishing though wasn’t that popular thus lots of info in this thread is false and incomplete so I’ll give a brief info about it.

KF-X project was first mentioned on 3rd of November 2000 so roughly about 16 and a half years ago when the former president Kim, Dae Jung attended the shipment ceremony of KT-1 basic trainer. There he declared that Korea will develop an indigenous fighter jet which is fitted with up-to-date HW, SW and capabilities at latest till 2015, which, well, is not the case anymore. Then the ED of KF-X took place and there resulted the conventional main wing-tail wing configuration C100 model and European styled canard – main wing configuration C200. These initial designs developed further into C1/201/, C1/202 and finally, the C103 and C203.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251806[/ATTACH]
KF-X c101 revealed in Seoul air show 2011

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251807[/ATTACH]
KF-X c201 from the official press of MoD, the ‘Daily Kookbang’ in 2011

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251808[/ATTACH]
Models of KF-X C103 and C203 displayed at national parliament in January the 2013, during the debate of national defense comittee

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251812[/ATTACH]
Internal configuration of KF-X C103. There is an aerial refueling probe but KFX will probably designed with a dock for a boom.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251813[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]251814[/ATTACH]
KFX C203 design

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251809[/ATTACH]
KF-X C104, the first improved model after the approval of KFX System development after 14 years of never-ending postpone. Revealed in October the 2015, at Seoul air show.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]251810[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]251811[/ATTACH]
KF-X C105 going through series of subsonic wind tunnel test at KARI’s facility in Daejon

As you can see, the selected configuration is a main wing – tail wing C10X series.

Anyways, before 2015 when KF-X was at last authorized, KF-X went through several ED processes though got stuck for -as what I’ve mentioned above – 14 years on ED and feasibility evaluation due to the changing of president and parliament members, reported lacking of feasibility from various sources who’ve conducted feasibility evaluation and most of all, lack or technology. Somehow this got through on year 2015, mainly due to the 3rd F-X, which the foreign 4.5th gen or 5th gen candidates were too expensive for the ROKAF to afford it and replace the aging F-5 in the 2020s and KF-16 in 2030s. Thus in-Korea built FA-50 had a good reputation within the ROKAF which gave an extra thrust for KF-X to get through the approval. Today, ADD and KAI aims to put KFX into service by 2026, so in 9 years. KFX is being developed by KAI, assisted by the ADD, the Korean DARPA equivilant, KARI, Lockheed Martin as TAC, various other foreign companies like ELTA who will assist Hanhwa Thales to develop the AESA radar, GE to license Hanhwa Techwin to produce F414 and transfer the technologies, MECAER to assist Hanhwa developing the landing gear, and so on.

Based on information from Last year on November, current design is C106 and the final design will be C109 which will appear by May the 2018. Unlike F-35, KF-X doesn’t carry a built-in internal targeting pod even in Block. 3. KFX currently has a plan till Block. 3 development and can be developed further on. Unlike Eurofighter or F-35, KF-X will already have every capability by Block. 1. Block. 2 and Block. 3 are only the certification process, so the mass production block will be Block. 3. Thus initially the quantity Indonesian air force, Korea’s partner in KF-X development, planned to introduce was only around 50 ~ 60 though due to vast air space and sea Indonesian air force has to cover, it is expected for Indonesia to buy more IF-X (Indonesian version of KF-X)