Dhiel Defense announced that in South Korea the IRIS-T (AIM-2000) short-range air-to-air missile was launched for the first time as a guided missile from KAI’s KF-21, South Korea’s fourth and a half generation fighter currently under development. This test launch marks another significant milestone in Korea’s premier fighter program.
The success of this month’s launch (performed by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA) follows previous successes of IRIS-T evaluations on the KF-21: just a few months after the aircraft’s first flight in early 2023, it was a safe separation test by launching an unguided missile in flight in May 2023. Now, in May 2024, the missile has been targeted by the onboard AESA radar and successfully engaged the target drone. This comprehensive test demonstrates the fighter’s initial air-to-air capability (IOC) and once again highlights the exceptional performance of the IRIS-T.
Manufacturers Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Diehl Defense have been working closely together since 2017 to achieve this. Thanks to their seamless cooperation, both companies achieved another successful integration of Europe’s most advanced short-range air-to-air missile.
Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defense, congratulated KAI for the result obtained in the KF-21 development program in which the German company also participates with the IRIS-T missile.
The successful launch of the KF-21 also represents an important milestone in the track record of the IRIS-T program. With the upcoming integration into the KF-21, the IRIS-T once again demonstrates its compatibility with both traditional and modern fighter aircraft. Just in February 2024 KAI and Diehl Defense agreed to begin integrating the IRIS-T into KAI’s FA-50. With IRIS-T on board, both platforms, KF-21 and FA-50, will be ready for challenging missions.
So far, IRIS-T has been integrated into major combat aircraft platforms such as Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen, F-16, EF-18 and F-5. The system is in service or on order in several NATO countries, as well as Brazil, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Source Diehl Defense
Image @DAPA via Diehl Defense
