Rafale and KF-21 “Boramae” Fighter Jets in Intense Competition to Win Over Peruvian Air Force

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The Dassault Aviation-made Rafale fighter jet from France and the KF-21 “Boramae” from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) of South Korea are reportedly leading the race to meet the requirements of the Peruvian Air Force.

The Peruvian Air Force plans to replace its current fleet of MiG-29 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets with more modern aircraft.

General Carlos Enrique Chávez Cateriano, Commander of the Peruvian Armed Forces, stated that a comprehensive study for acquiring new fighter jets has been completed, with a final decision expected next year.

The Peruvian Air Force has shortlisted the Rafale and KF-21 fighter jets in its final selection.

In addition to the KF-21 and Rafale, other fighter jets offered to Peru include the F-16 from the United States, the JAS39 Gripen from Sweden, and the Eurofighter Typhoon from Spain, one of the consortium countries involved in its development.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is manufactured by a consortium of four European nations: the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

Given that the Peruvian Air Force currently operates the Mirage 2000, also produced by Dassault Aviation, the Rafale is seen as a natural choice for the Peruvian military.

The Rafale, known for its versatility, is capable of conducting a range of missions, including air superiority, interdiction, and nuclear deterrence. It is equipped with an array of weaponry and electronic warfare systems.

Currently, the Rafale is considered to be in high demand, having successfully attracted several countries this year and last year.

Just last week, Serbia became the latest customer for the Rafale, agreeing to purchase 12 units from Dassault Aviation for US$3 billion (RM12.90 billion).

This year alone, Dassault Aviation has received orders for 18 Rafale jets, following 60 orders in 2023 and 92 in 2022.

 In addition to increased orders from foreign nations, Dassault Aviation is also facing a rise in orders from the French Air Force itself.

In early January, France confirmed it would spend US$5.5 billion (RM24.75 billion) to acquire 42 Rafale fighter jets.

This latest order brings the total number of Rafale jets ordered by the French Air Force to 234.

Besides the orders for the French Air Force, Dassault Aviation has also received orders for 261 Rafale jets from countries including Indonesia, India, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Rafale is currently highly sought after in the Gulf region, with several countries attempting to acquire it.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly considering purchasing 54 Rafale jets, although French media claim that the world’s second-largest oil producer intends to buy as many as 100 French-made fighter jets.

As for the KF-21 “Boramae,” it is classified as a 4.5-generation fighter jet, although KAI claims its capabilities are closer to a 4.9-generation fighter.

In a recent interview with a Korean-language newspaper, KAI’s CEO Kang Goo-young said that the KF-21’s performance surpasses that of current 4.5-generation fighters such as the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.

“Categorizing the KF-21 ‘Boramae’ as a 4.5-generation fighter downplays its abilities. Compared to other 4.5-generation fighters like the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon, its (KF-21) performance is far superior,” he said.

“Therefore, I call it a 4.9-generation fighter, which is closer to a fifth-generation aircraft in terms of performance and capabilities,” he added.

The KF-21 will be equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and various modern systems and sensors, aligned with the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Another advantage of the KF-21 is its cost, which is estimated to be 30 to 40 percent cheaper than competing fighter jets.

Efforts to further reduce its cost are ongoing through the application of automation processes in its development. – DSA