Today's technology has made it possible for fifth-generation aircraft that were almost impossible for the another country approximately 15-20 years ago in the US.
The Republic of Korea, which acquired F-35 Lightning IIs from the USA in line with the country's modern battlefield requirements, launched the KF-X (Korean Fighter-eXperimental) fifth-generation aircraft project in the same framework. In the process, which continued with the industrial partnership of Indonesian PT Dirgantara with the main contractor KAI (Korean Aerospace Industries), air-to-surface smart ammunition selection to be used on aircraft was announced.
Officials from the Republic of Korea announced that KF-Xs will be equipped with Raytheon production GBU-12 Paveway II, Boeing GBU-31/38 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition), GBU-54/56 Laser JDAM and the GBU-39 / B SDB1 (Small Diameter Bomb-1). KF-Xs will also use Textron CBU-105 WCMD (Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser).
Studies for the integration process of systems, which currently in use on different aircraft of the Republic of Korea inventory, to KF-Xs will begin in 2020. The full integration of ammunition will be completed in 6-7 years.
In November 2019, Korea announced that the MBDA Meteor long-range air-to-air missile would also be part of the aircraft's ammunition family. It is expected that an agreement will be signed with German Diehl for the IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile soon.
