South Korea’s Hanwha Techniques has unveiled the “indigenously developed” energetic electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system for the KF-21 fighter jet.
The primary mass-produced AESA radar unit was rolled out on 5 August 2025, at a not too long ago accomplished superior antenna testing facility at Hanwha Techniques’ Yongin analysis and growth (R&D) Middle.
This milestone follows a manufacturing contract signed in 2024, with Hanwha Techniques cementing the total settlement earlier in 2025.
The corporate is ready to ship 40 AESA radar items between 2025 and 2028, which will probably be built-in into the KF-21 fighter jets.
AESA radars provide a number of benefits over conventional mechanically scanned programs, corresponding to quicker goal acquisition, elevated detection vary, and the power to trace a number of targets concurrently.
These capabilities considerably improve a fighter jet’s situational consciousness and fight effectiveness.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has produced the KF-21, a multirole fight plane with twin engines.
This 4.5-generation fighter jet options superior avionics corresponding to AESA radar and infrared search and monitor (IRST) capabilities, alongside digital warfare programs.
It runs on two Basic Electrical F414-400K engines, can attain speeds as much as Mach 1.8, has a fight vary of about 1,500 nautical miles, and might carry a most payload of seven,700kg.
Hanwha Techniques protection electronics division head Hyuk Park mentioned: “Hanwha Techniques is the one and solely firm in Korea to efficiently develop, mass-produce, and export AESA radar programs. We’re increasing our international attain with scalable radar options tailor-made to a variety of platforms—from gentle fighters to unmanned aerial automobiles.”
Since 2016, Hanwha Techniques has been creating AESA radar in South Korea, and unveiled its first prototype in 2020.
The superior antenna testing facility on the Yongin R&D Middle encompasses a Close to-Discipline Chamber that may take a look at as much as 4 airborne radar programs without delay.
It’s designed to evaluate key efficiency indicators and sign traits for AESA antenna arrays, every comprising round 1,000 transmit/obtain modules.
In Might 2024, the corporate signed contract with European defence contractor Leonardo for exporting AESA radar antennas.
This settlement pertains to radar programs for gentle assault plane and signifies South Korea’s entry into the worldwide radar export market.
